Baghdad – Al-Nabaa Forum for Dialogue hosted a virtual symposium titled "Electoral Districts: A Tool for Partisan Representation or a Reflection of the People's Will?" drawing a diverse group of researchers, specialists, and journalists. The event was moderated by journalist and author Kamal Obeid and featured a keynote address by Adel Al-Lami, former Chairman of the Board of Commissioners.
Forum Director Dr. Alaa Al-Silawi stated that the event aimed to shed light on a recurring issue related to electoral districts. He stressed that any legal amendments must serve the public's aspirations rather than partisan interests.
Al-Silawi noted that Iraq has witnessed a continuous decline in voter turnout, reflecting a deep-seated lack of trust between the public and the political system. "The electoral law has yet to achieve stability or maturity, particularly regarding its drafting and the redrawing of electoral districts," he explained. "Therefore, we urge politicians, stakeholders, and lawmakers to design these districts in a way that prevents wasted votes, restores the Iraqi citizen's trust in the democratic system, and ensures the rise of the political elite."
Speaking to Al-Nabaa News Agency, Adel Al-Lami, a member of the Forum and former head of the Electoral Commission, asserted that elections are a foundational pillar of democratic governance. He stated, "Elections play a central role in promoting the principles of participation, oversight, equality, clarity, and transparency."
He added that constitutionally cementing this foundation guarantees public participation in governance. This is achieved through both scheduled and snap elections driven by constitutional or legal mechanisms, such as dissolving parliament, holding by-elections, or organizing re-elections under specific conditions. He noted, "This framework ensures the engagement of diverse societal segments with the government and broadens public interaction."
He further pointed out that electoral systems continually seek the most effective ways to reflect voters' free will. Leaders and experts in the humanities and social sciences seek to apply direct democracy and utilize universal, direct, and secret balloting. Al-Lami emphasized that while voting is an individual right, some countries, such as Australia, treat it as a mandatory civic duty rather than just a right.