Iraqis' interest in upcoming elections waning, new poll shows

[Rose Siding]

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi voters are losing interest in elections scheduled for January, and not because they're worried about security.


Instead, potential voters said they had no interest in or understanding of the process, according to a poll by the Iraq Center for Research & Strategic Studies.

The poll, conducted Sept. 15 to 22, surveyed 3,500 people nationwide. Of those, 66.8 percent said they very likely would vote in January's elections for a National Assembly; in June, 88.8 percent had said they very likely would vote.

Just over 8 percent said they might not or definitely wouldn't vote.

Only 12.7 percent of those saying they probably wouldn't vote cited security concerns. A lack of information was cited by 37.3 percent; 35.7 said they had no interest. The margin of error was 3.4 percentage points.
.........
The results are disappointing for those who hoped the public would embrace the elections as the first step toward a democratic Iraq. They suggest that the U.S.-appointed government hasn't effectively rallied the people to reclaim their government through elections.

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/9851833.htm

[delete_bush]

1. Sounds like our Americanization process

is working. Soon they'll be in line with US voter turnout.

[BlueEyedSon]

2. They're more interested in clean water and working electricity, I'll bet!

[Nicholas_J]

3. They mostly beleive

That the results of the election will be that an American flunky will win no matter what.

[ogradda]

4. maybe they have other priorities

like clean water, electricity, dodging the bullets and bombs, getting uncle ali out of abu ghraib, etc.etc.etc.......

[bigbubbabill]

5. Let's hope it all works out!

[bread_and_roses]

6. Hard to be interested

when for one, you don't know if one of your children or relatives might be the next one dead and for two, you consider(rightly) the candidates US puppets.

[Booster]

7. Let's let Bush run in Iraq - that ought to get them interested.

Sure has worked here.

[tlcandie]

8. Why participate with a 'symbolic' and meaningless gesture

in a system that is already standing naked in front of them and still unable to bring them: peace, hope, life, jobs, housing, food, water, healthcare, fuel, the return of their ancient architecture and treasures, their proud heritage, and the return of all their dead over the last year?

So, far this system has brought them nothing, but fear, torture, shame, DU, hunger, hopelessness, and major death.

I'm sure they are asking how checking a box and signing one's name to a piece of paper will make REAL physical changes.

[MNDFLDem]

9. Huh. Poor terrorized chumps...

soldiers of the Army seem to be suffering a temporary setback. Does the modern Democrat party fervently wish America's failure, along with LOTS of casualties? After what I've read here, I'm starting to question that my party still wishes to be associated with the United States. We're Not The Bad Guys... There are patriotic Americans, veterans who had to kill people. Democrats and Republicans, white guys, black guys, and some Mexicans. Or else you die. I think I'm dealing with the non-serious wing of the Democrat party here. The Republicans aren't any more serious either. I care about what's happening to my party, to the United States...