There won't be any hanging chads.....

in Iraq's constitutional referendum even though Saddam Hussein gets to vote! Sorry for the gallows humor but its ironic. Saddam will get to vote yes or no on the new constitution that among other things bans the Saddamist Baath party.

The Iraquis are trying to form a democracy, if they wish people in jail to vote that is their right. I wish the Iraqi people success, but just couldn't help see the irony in allowing Saddam to vote.

Hat tip- Tung Yin
Trackbacks- Basil's Blog, Bright&Early and Outside the Beltway


BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Thousands of detainees in Iraqi jails should be able to vote in the constitutional referendum this week -- including former president Saddam Hussein, the country's Electoral Commission said.

Though details on Monday were scant, it raised the unlikely prospect of Saddam and his aides marking "Yes" or "No" to a constitution that specifically bans the "Saddamist Baath party."

Commission officials said ballot boxes would be sent to the U.S.-run Abu Ghraib prison and other camps where about 10,000 mainly Sunni prisoners are held, often without charge, on suspicion of joining a revolt. Sunni leaders have called for a "No" vote or a boycott of the ballot.

"All unconvicted detainees will have the right to vote in the referendum," the Commission's Adil al-Lami told a news conference, saying they would vote on Thursday, two days ahead of the national ballot on Saturday.

Asked whether Saddam himself could take part, Commissioner Farid Ayar told Reuters: "I don't know where he is. But if he's at Abu Ghraib ... or one of the other camps, then he would fall into that category."

A U.S. military spokesman declined to comment on the issue.