BAGHDAD, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Iraq's military personnel, prisoners and hospitalized people voted Monday in the country's parliamentary elections in advance of the Dec 15 polling date.
Ballot boxes were placed in prisons, hospitals and military bases to allow these segments of the Iraqi population to choose their future representatives, and an estimated 280,000 voters are believed to have participated in Monday's vote.
The Higher Elections Commission said it expects a high turnout on Thursday after the Sunni Arab community decided to participate in the elections. In January the Sunnis had boycotted elections for the interim government.
Government officials said earlier that deposed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, who is imprisoned by the U.S. forces, has the right to cast his vote, but there was no information on whether or not he will be allowed to exercise this right.
Monday's vote is the first of the three-phased elections. In the second phase, which starts Tuesday and continues for two days, eligible expatriate Iraqi voters, estimated at 1.5 million, will be able to cast their votes in polling stations set up in 15 countries around the world.
Inside Iraq, some 14.5 million eligible voters will vote Thursday in the third and final phase.
The government Sunday announced a series of tough security measures aimed at ensuring a smooth vote, including the closing of all borders, airports, and government offices for six days, halting transportation and all movements between Baghdad and the various provinces, and imposing a night curfew.
Iraqi police and army and U.S. forces will impose security cordons around cities and election centers throughout Iraq.
Some 7,648 candidates will be competing for seats in Iraq's new, four-year, 275-member parliament.
