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The first day of a registration
process to allow Iraqi expatriates to vote for
representatives of a new national assembly went
smoothly at Nashville’s two registration sites and
one security checkpoint, officials said.
The International Organization for Migration, a
nongovernmental group chosen by Iraq’s electoral
commission to organize voting, selected Nashville as
one of five U.S. cities hosting out-of-country
voting next week for the election. Iraqi expatriates
will cast ballots for the 275-member Transitional
National Assembly Jan. 28-30.
Persons interviewed Monday at the
registration/polling places said they expect a large
group wanting to register this weekend from the
Atlanta area. Others are expected from as far away
as Dallas.
“It was pretty simple and not a problem,” said
Newzad Noman, an American Kurd who registered Monday
to vote out-of-country.
“They had people speaking Kurdish so that was the
most important thing. It made it much easier and it
was a simple process.”
Noman estimated that 7,000-8,000 Kurds live in
Nashville.
“Everybody is excited to get their vote and see
where the Kurds stand, what is the situation and
what role they are going to play in the government
so we’ll see how it goes,” he said, adding that
there was only one Kurd on the ballot of over 300
names.
Registration will continue 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. through
Sunday. Persons wanting to register must first
report to the Craighead Street entrance of the
Tennessee State Fairgrounds for security screening.
After screening, groups are transported to one of
two registration locations, Coleman Community Center
at the intersection of Thompson Lane and Nolensville
Road or the FOP Andrew Jackson Lodge No. 5 at 440
Welshwood Ave.
Eligible voters need to provide proof of Iraqi
citizenship, nationality and proof of birth before
Dec. 31, 1986.
“Things have really gone well,” said Lynn Durham,
who works in the Nashville office of the Iraq
Out-of-Country Voting Program. “Everything really
went better than they even anticipated it would go.
“These people are the kindest, most grateful people.
They even came in the first day with a meal from Fat
Mo’s Burgers, just to express their gratitude. It
has just been a pleasure. They are so appreciative
of what is happening here.”
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