Iraqi's voting in Iraqi elections in America

Factual Questions
1

Ok, the title is a bit unwieldy, but I digress……

Last night on the local news they had a segment on Iraqi’s around America voting in the Iraqi elections, and my questions revolve around how this is accomplished. Are these naturalized citizens voting in a foreign election, or are these resident aliens? It would seem odd to allow US citizens the chance to vote in someone else’s election, but it would also seem difficult to effectively register non citizens to vote. Based off of the “purple finger” system it would appear that we’re not talking about the most high tech system of voting and registration here.
Lastly I’m curious on how one proves eligibility to vote, and why this isn’t a common occurrence for other nationals living in America. I don’t recall ever seeing lines of Hispanics voting in Mexican elections, or my grandparents voting in Irish elections. What gives?

2

It also has a superfluous apostrophe.

Carry on.

–Cliffy

3

Here’s the US website of the Iraqi Election Commission.

http://www.iraqvote.org/

Voting is open to “Iraqi citizens or those that can attain citizenship. Born on or before December 31, 1987.”

4

In the Detroit News, they said that you can vote in the Iraqi elections if you were born in Iraq, or if your father was. People were supposed to bring proof of eligiblity to the polling station. I presume that this means a birth certificate for you and/or your father, as appropriate.

5

  • Slight clarifiation, “Hispanics” probably wouldn’t vote in Mexican elections since “Hispanics” refers to the ethnic label for the group of Latin American nationalities that reside in the US, among those nationalities, of course, are Mexicans.

  • Yes. Mexicans born in Mexico and who are now US citizens can vote in 2006 Mexican Presidential elections. They have to follow the process, but its recent reform.

From Yahoo!

6

It isn’t that uncommon. When I was in New York City last summer, my hotel had a polling place set up for the Iranian presidential election.