US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD4900

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004900 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, KDEM, IZ, Shia Islamists, Elections 
SUBJECT: SHIA INDEPENDENT ALLEGES IECI CORRUPTION 
 
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT S. FORD, 
FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
1. (C) TNA member and Shia independent Ali Hashim al- 
Yusha, who is leading his own party, the Unified 
National Coalition, in the December elections, alleged 
IECI corruption in a December 4 conversation with 
PolOff and PolFSN.  Al-Yusha said he had been 
approached by IECI poll center managers with an offer 
to "sell" ballot boxes.  According to Al-Yusha, the 
center managers said that when the ballots are counted 
in the polling center after closing, empty ballots 
would be filled out for the party that had paid the 
most and then mixed in with legitimate ballots.  Al- 
Yusa said he knew that 3 or 4 lists have made payments 
- he would not name them, but said they are 
"powerful".   He said he would raise this issue in an 
upcoming press conference.  He also said Unified 
National Coalition posters are being torn down or 
being covered up with Shia Alliance posters. 
 
2. (C) Hussein Mussawi, leader of the Liberal 
Republicans Party (part of the Sun of Iraq Coalition), 
made similar allegations about the IECI in the Karbala 
Governorate to PolOffs December 5 (septel). 
 
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COMMENT 
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3. (SBU) Post cannot confirm the accuracy of the above 
allegations.  At the same time, we have stressed to 
the IECI and its international advisors that charges 
of this kind, must be addressed and -- as important -- 
be seen as being addressed by the Commission.  On 
December 5, poloff raised Al-Yusha's specific reports 
with International Elections Commissioner Craig 
Jenness who said he would raise this issue with the 
Iraqi Commissioners.  Jenness noted, however, that 
without specifics, it would be difficult to follow up 
on these allegations.  On, December 6, poloff 
discussed the allegations further with IECI Chief 
Electoral Officer Adil Allami.  Allami expressed 
willingness to meet with anyone who could give him 
more information about IECI malfeasance.  We are 
following up with al-Yusha and others and, if need be, 
will work to facilitate such interaction.  We will 
also explore with the IECI means to maximize the 
ability of monitors and observers to maintain 
sufficient presence at polling centers on election day 
to reduce the opportunity for fraud. 
 
4. (SBU)  On a technical level, al-Yusha's specific 
allegation suggests at a minimum a lack of 
sophistication on the part of those who made him the 
offer.  First, ballots are counted at the polling 
stations and likely in the presence of at least one 
independent observer or a political entity agent. 
Second, the party would need to overcome procedural 
safeguards to obtain a significant source of blank 
ballot sheets.  (E.g., the unused portion of each 
multi-paged ballot is to be destroyed after each voter 
casts his/her individual vote, which should reduce the 
possibility of fraudulent use of the leftover portion 
of legally case ballots.)  Third, each polling station 
will have the capacity for handling about 500 voters. 
The scope of this plan to conduct fraud would need to 
include a large number of polling centers and stations 
in order to have an effect on the outcome of the 
elections.  The IECI data review systems at the 
Baghdad Tally Center should be able to detect 
anomalies that would reveal attempts of fraud of this 
kind. 
KHALILZAD