Comparing The January 2009 to January 2005 Provincial Elections

The results of the January 2009 elections will not be known for weeks, but the early returns show a lower turnout than the last time Iraqis voted on provincial councils in January 2005. At that time, 58% of Iraqis, over 8 million out of approximately 14 million people cast ballots. That included out-of-country voting in fourteen nations where 280,303 Iraqis registered. It also included a massive Sunni boycott, where only around 2% showed up. The first counts for the 2009 vote have 51% turnout with around 7.5 million out of 14.9 million registered voters participating. In Anbar for example, Sunnis were expected to come out in large numbers having regretted their 2005 boycott, and where the Awakening tribes were having a heated campaign against the Iraqi Islamic Party for control, but only 40% voted. There were many early reports of widespread apathy amongst Iraqis who felt that politics had not improved their daily lives, that could be proving true. There are also growing reports of voters either being left off of roles or being confused about where their election centers were.

Here are the early returns for the January 31 vote compared to the January 2005 election.

January 31, 2009 Provincial Election Early Voter Turnout By Province

Anbar: 40%
Babil: 56%
Baghdad: Still pending, expected 39-40%
Basra: 48%
Dhi Qar: 50%
Diyala: 57%
Karbala: 60%
Maysan: 46%
Muthanna: 61%
Najaf: 55%
Ninewa: 60%
Qadisiyah: 58%
Salahaddin: 65%
Wasit: 54%

January 2005 Provincial Election Voter Turnout By Province

Anbar 2%
Babil 71%
Baghdad 48%
Dhi Qar 67%
Diyala 34%
Dohuk 89%
Karbala 73%
Maysan 59%
Muthanna 61%
Najaf 73%
Ninewa 17%
Qadisiyah 69%
Salahaddin 29%
Sulaymaniya 80%
Wasit 66%

Who Currently Rules Iraq’s Provinces

ANBAR
Governor: Mamoun Sami Rashid al-Awani

• Iraqi Islamic Party (Hashemi): 2,692 votes, 29 seats
• Independent Iraqi Group: 755 votes, 8 seats
• Reconciliation and Liberation Bloc: 328 votes, 4 seats
• TOTAL VALID BALLOTS: 3,775, 41 seats
• INVALID BALLOTS: 28

BABIL
Governor: Salim al-Mesalmaoui

• Faithful Iraqis Association (Supreme Council): 192,643 votes, 25 seats
  
• Al-Rasul Association: 43,226 votes, 6 seats
  
• Imam Ali Society: 41,607 votes, 6 seats
  
• Security & Reconstruction: 17,295 votes, 2 seats
  
• Babil Independent Association: 15,779 seats, 2 seats
  
• TOTAL VALID BALLOTS: 494,054, 41 seats
  
• INVALID AND BLANK BALLOTS: 21,786
  

BAGHDAD
Governor: Hussein al-Tahan, Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council

• Baghdad Nation (Supreme Council): 694,800 votes, 28 seats
  
• Baghdad Peace (Dawa): 264,130 votes, 11 seats
  
• Islamic al-Fadhila Party: 156,229 votes, 6 seats
  
• National Democratic Alliance: 46,265 votes, 2 seats
  
• Iraqi Communist Party: 36,713 votes, 2 seats
  
• National Independent Cadres and Elites (Sadrists): 35,441 votes, 1 seats
  
• Iraqi Independent al-Bayan Gathering: 34,366 votes, 1 seats
  
• TOTAL VALID BALLOTS: 1,750,772, 51 seats
  
• INVALID BALLOTS: 21,600
  

BASRA
Governor: Muhmmad al-Waili, Islamic al-Fadhila Party
Al-Waili became governor because the Supreme Council ran two candidates and split their vote.
In April 2007 the Supreme Council had a no confidence vote against al-Waili that was ratified by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in July, but al-Waili is still in office.
Al-Waili was temporarily placed under house arrest during the government offensive in Basra in March 2008.

• Islamic Basra (Supreme Council): 235,704 votes, 20 seats
  
• Islamic al-Fadhila Party: 150,823 votes, 12 seats
  
• Iraqi National List (Allawi): 49,005 votes, 4 seats
  
• Islamic Dawa Party: 37,997 votes, 3 seats
  
• Iraqi Independent List: 21,236 votes, 2 seats
  
• TOTAL VALID BALLOTS: 713,271, 41 seats
  
• INVALID BALLOTS: 7,733
  

DHI QAR
Governor: Aziz Kadum Alwan al-Ogheli, Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council

• Islamic Al-Fadhila Party: 103,114 votes, 11 seats
  
• Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council: 100,237 votes, 11 seats
  
• Islamic Dawa – Iraq Organization: 89,263 votes, 10 seats
  
• Iraqi National List (Allawi): 20,767 votes, 2 seats
  
• Islamic Movement of the 15th of Shaaban: 19,709 votes, 2 seats
  
• Iraqi Communist Party: 18,769 votes, 2 seats
  
• Iraqi Independent Gathering: 15,531, votes, 2 seats
  
• Independent Coalition for the Care of Democracy: 13,880 votes, 1 seat
  
• TOTAL VALID BALLOTS: 522,271, 41 seats
  
• INVALID BALLOTS 4,707

DIYALA
Governor: Raad Hameed al-Mula al-Tamimi, Badr Brigade, Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council

• Coalition of Islamic & National Forces in Diyala (Dawa & Supreme Council): 84,390 votes, 20 seats
  
• Iraqi Islamic Party (Hashemi): 55,960 votes, 14 seats
  
• Kurdish Arabic Turkmen Democratic Coalition – Diyala Governorate: 30,268 seats, 7 seats
  
• TOTAL VALID BALLOTS: 210,574, 41 seats
  
• INVALID BALLOTS 3,283

DOHUK
Governor: Tamar Ramadan, Kurdistan Democratic Party

• Kurdistan Democratic Party: 302,133 votes, 33 seats
  
• Kurdistan Islamic Union: 35,675 votes, 4 seats
  
• Patriotic Union of Kurdistan: 35,483 votes, 4 seats
  
• TOTAL VALLID BALLOTS: 383,265, 41 seats
  
• INVALID BALLOTS: 5,273

IRBIL
Governor: Ali Nikzad, Kurdistan Democratic Party

• Democratic Voice of Kurdistan List (Kurdistan Democratic Party): 347,772 votes, 23 seats
  
• Patriotic Union of Kurdistan: 244,343 votes, 16 seats
  
• Kurdistan Islamic Union: 22,523 votes, 1 seats
  
• Islamic Group of Kurdistan: 18,781 votes, 1 seats
  
• TOTAL VALID BALLOTS: 647,994, 41 seats
  
• INVALID BALLOTS: 16,622

KARBALA
Governor: Uqeil al-Khazaali, Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council

• Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council: 101,932 votes, 21 seats
  
• Islamic al-Fadhila Party: 22,085 votes, 5 seats
  
• Shiite Political Council: 10,655 votes, 2 seats
  
• Democratic Progressive Gathering: 9,698 votes, 2 seats
  
• Independent Council of Tribal Sheikhs & Notables of Karbala Governorate: 9,647 votes, 2 seats
  
• Iraqi Democratic Current: 9,161 votes, 2 seats
  
• Independent Unified List for the Governorate of Holy Karbala: 8,719 votes, 2 seats
  
• Dr. Abbas al-Hasnawi: 8,621 votes, 1 seat
  
• Democratic Meeting for Holy Karbala: 7,605 votes, 2 seats
  
• Independent Intellectuals Gathering: 7,233 votes, 2 seats
  
• TOTAL VALID BALLOTS 297,201 41
• INVALID BALLOTS 3,168

MAYSAN
Governor: Adil Mahwadar Radi, Sadrist

• Al-Hussayni Thought Forum (Sadrists): 78,859 votes, 15 seats
  
• Islamic Unified Front (Supreme Council): 28,211 votes, 6 seats
  
• Islamic Dawa – Iraq Organization: 25,388 votes, 5 seats
  
• Islamic al-Fadhila Party: 20,379 votes, 4 seats
  
• Al-Rida Center for Culture & Guidance: 13,410 votes, 3 seats
  
• Gathering of the Independent Sons of Maysan: 9,674 votes, 2 seats
  
• Iraqi Republican Group: 7,560 votes, 2 seats
  
• Islamic Dawa Party: 7,006 votes, 1 seat
  
• Maysan Democratic Coalition: 6,833 votes, 1 seat
  
• Shiite Political Council: 6,558 votes, 1 seat
  
• Independent National Islamic Congregation: 6,201 votes, 1 seat
  
• TOTAL VALID BALLOTS: 246,957, 41 seats
  
• INVALID BALLOTS: 1,559

MUTHANNA
Governor: Muhammad ali-Hassan Abbas al-Hassani, Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council
Al-Hassani was assassinated in August 2007
Ahmad Marzouq Salal of the Dawa Party who was head of the provincial council took his place.

• Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council: 23,918 votes, 8 seats
  
• Islamic al-Fadhila Party: 18,206 votes, 6 seats
  
• Al-Furat al-Awsat Assembly: 17,924 votes, 6 seats
  
• Islamic Independent Society: 14,550 votes, 5 seats
  
• Islamic Dawa Party: 13,354 votes, 4 seats
  
• Gathering for al-Muthanna: 12,687 votes, 4 seats
  
• Allegiance Coalition: 10,221 votes, 3 seats
  
• Iraqi National List (Allawi): 7,530 votes, 3 seats
  
• Iraqi Communist Party: 5,602 votes, 2 seats
  
• TOTAL VALID BALLOTS: 173,155, 41 seats
  
• INVALID BALLOTS: 2,004

NAJAF
Governor: Asad Abu Gilel al-Taie, Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council

• Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council: 133,676 votes, 19 seats
  
• Loyalty to Al-Najaf: 64,837 votes, 9 seats
  
• Banner of the Independents: 26,585 votes, 4 seats
  
• Iraqi National List (Allawi): 23,663 votes, 3 seats
  
• Islamic al-Fadhila Party: 15,999 votes, 2 seats
  
• Allegiance Coalition: 13,464 votes, 2 seats
  
• Iraq Future Gathering: 11,513 votes, 2 seats
  
• TOTAL VALID BALLOTS: 359,268, 41 seats
  
• INVALID BALLOTS: 3,079

NINEWA
Governor: Usama Yousif Kashmula, Independent
Kashmula was assassinated in July 2004
Duraid Kashmoula, his brother, took his place

• Democratic Patriotic Alliance of Kurdistan (Kurdistan Democratic Party & Patriotic Union of Kurdistan): 109,295 votes, 31 seats
  
• Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council: 17,255 votes, 5 seats
  
• Iraqi Islamic Party (Hashemi): 7,065 votes, 2 seats
  
• Council of the United Clans of Mosul: 6,624 votes, 2 seats
  
• National Rafidain List: 4,650 votes, 1 seat
  
• TOTAL VALID BALLOTS: 165,934, 41 seats
  
• INVALID BALLOTS: 864

QADISIYAH
Governor: Khalil Jalil Hamza, Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council
Hamza was assassinated in August 2007
Hamid al-Khodairi of the Supreme Council replaced him

• Martyr of the Sanctuary Sayyid Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim (Supreme Council): 102,005 votes, 20 seats
  
• Shiite Political Council: 26,898 votes, 5 seats
  
• Islamic Dawa Party: 15,446 votes, 3 seats
  
• Iraqi National List (Allawi): 15,396 votes, 3 seats
  
• Islamic al-Fadhila Party: 14,606 votes, 3 seats
  
• Independent Brotherhood (Sadrists): 14,485 votse, 3 seats
  
• Islamic Dawa Party – Iraq Organization: 10,854 votes, 2 seats
  
• Loyalty to Irq Coalition (Sadrists): 8,052 votes, 2 seats
  
• TOTAL VALID BALLOTS: 337,220 votes, 41 seats
  
• INVALID BALLOTS: 3,898

SALAHADDIN
Governor: Hamed Hamood Shekti al-Qaisi

• List of the Unified Democratic Coalition in Salahaddin Governorate (Kurdish Democratic Party & Patriot Union of Kurdistan): 22,160 votes, 8 seats
  
• Liberation & Reconciliation Gathering: 17,017 votes, 6 seats
  
• Iraqi Turkmen Front: 14,917 votes, 5 seats
  
• Coalition of the Iraqi National Unity: 13,321 votes, 5 seats
  
• Unified List: 12,815 votes, 4 seats
  
• Iraqi National List (Allawi): 10,215 votes, 3 seats
  
• Islamic Dawa Party: 8,691 votes, 3 seats
  
• National Iraqi Gathering: 8,641 votes, 3 seats
  
• National al-Resalyoon List (Sadrists): 6,133 votes, 2 seats
  
• Gathering of Independent in Salahadin: 4,739 votes, 2 seats
  
• TOTAL VALID BALLOTS: 137,476, 41 seats
  
• INVALID BALLOTS: 1,834

SULAYMANIYA
Governor: Dana Ahmed Majid, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan

• Patriotic Union of Kurdistan: 485,718 votes, 28 seats
  
• Kurdistan Islamic Union: 75,008 votes, 5 seats
  
• Islamic Group of Kurdistan: 53,088 votes, 5 seats
  
• Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iraq: 91,578 votes, 3 seats
  
• Communist Party of Kurdistan: 8,192 , 0 seats
• TOTAL VALID BALLOTS: 731,323, 41 seats
  
• INVALID BALLOTS: 13,183

TAMIM
Governor: Abdulrahman Mustapha Fatah

• List of Kurdistan Brotherhood (Kurdistan Democratic Party): 237,303 votes, 26 seats
  
• Iraqi Turkoman Front: 73,791 votes, 8 seats
  
• Iraqi Republican Group: 43,635 votes, 5 seats
  
• Islamic Turkoman Coalition: 12,678 votes, 1 seat
  
• National Iraq Union: 12,329 votes, 1 seat
  
• TOTAL VALID BALLOTS: 400,892, 41 seats
  
• INVALID BALLOTS: 5,059

WASIT
Governor: Latif Hamid Turfa, Sadrist

• Iraqi Elites Gathering: 185,813 votes, 31 seats
  
• Shiite Political Council (Supreme Council & Dawa): 22,346 votes, 4 seats
  
• Gathering of the Independents in Wasit: 16,518 votes, 3 seats
  
• Iraqi Communist Party: 12,780 votes, 2 seats
  
• Democratic Iraq Gathering: 9,010 votes, 1 seats
  
• TOTAL VALID BALLOTS: 324,678, 41 seats
  
• INVALID BALLOTS: 2,704

NOTES
Allawi = Former Interim Prime Minister Ilyad Allawi of the Iraqi National List, aka Iraqi National Accord

Hashemi = Vice President Tariq Hashemi of the Iraqi Islamic Party that is part of the Iraqi Accordance Front

SOURCES
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Dagher, Sam, “Basra strike against Shiite militias also about oil,” Christian Science Monitor, 4/9/08
Dreyfuss, Robert, “Iraq’s Election: What to Watch For,” The Nation, 1/28/09
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