Baghdad: The Legal Adviser of the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), Hassan Salman, has assured that the number of untransmitted votes from polling stations is limited and does not affect the overall election results. He emphasized that all current objections are classified as complaints rather than appeals.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Salman clarified in a televised statement that the objections received by the Commission from candidates or interested parties are considered complaints, as it is not legally possible to file an appeal against preliminary results. The Consultations and Complaints Department is responsible for reviewing and classifying these complaints before they are referred to the Commission Council for resolution within specified timeframes.

Salman categorized the complaints into three types: yellow, which are minor and rejected on formality; green, which require investigation and are resolved within 72 hours; and red, which could potentially affect the results. He noted that no red complaints have been registered thus far.

He further highlighted that the resolution of complaints in this election cycle may be quicker than in previous ones, potentially concluding by next week. Salman also addressed the issue of some stations not submitting their results due to minor technical issues, stating that these occurrences are common in all electoral processes and do not significantly impact the preliminary results.

Discussing the legal timelines for announcing the final results, Salman stated that once the Commission Council approves the results, they can be appealed within one day of announcement. The period for submitting appeals lasts three days, after which the Commission Council reviews them within seven days. Appeals submitted directly to the Electoral Judicial Authority are referred back to the Commission for clarification before a decision is issued.

Salman confirmed that the total legal timeframe for this phase may reach approximately 20 days. He noted that the limited number of complaints and absence of serious complaints could expedite the process, leading to the final certification of the winners' names.