Iraq electoral commission announces updated referendum turnout figures News
Iraq electoral commission announces updated referendum turnout figures

[JURIST] The Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq (IECI) [official website] released updated voter turnout statistics for the October 15 Iraqi constitutional referendum [JURIST news archive] Friday, reporting a 63 percent turnout among the country's 15.5 million registered voters. The referendum drew a three-percent higher turnout than the Sunni-boycotted parliamentary elections in January [JURIST report]. Official referendum results are expected next week after the IECI conducts an audit to verify the "unusually high numbers" of "yes" votes [JURIST report] from certain unidentified provinces. Initial figures suggest that voters in 16 of Iraq's 18 provinces voted "yes" on the referendum, which would be enough to ensure its passage. Turnout in individual provinces ranged from 32 to 90 percent. AP has more.

12:31 PM ET – An Electoral Commission official said Saturday that thusfar the IECI had found no evidence of serious fraud in the October 15 poll, although its audit of returns was not yet complete. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Montgomery started racially-integrated bus service after boycott

On December 21, 1956, buses in Montgomery, Alabama, started racially integrated service following federal court rulings ending on-board segregation. Bus boycott leaders Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and Rev. Ralph Abernathy were among the first riders under the new scheme. Learn about the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Stalin born

On December 21, 1879, Joseph Stalin was born in Gori, Georgia. In 1922, he became leader of the USSR until his death in 1953. During his time as Soviet dictator, Stalin industrialized his country, which he then led to become one of the world's two superpowers after WWII. Through his infamous purges, show trials and nationwide famines, Stalin also became responsible for millions of deaths.