Fear Shrouds Iraq's Elections in Secrecy, Confusion

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050124/wl_nm/iraq_election_confusion_dc&cid=574&ncid=1480

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Election centers have been bombed, candidates and electoral officials threatened and even killed. With only a week to go, intimidation is turning Iraq (news - web sites)'s landmark polls into a new kind of secret ballot.



Some Iraqis don't know who to vote for as most candidates keep their identities hidden, fearing for their lives.


Those who've made up their minds don't know where to cast their ballots, since the location of polling stations is being hushed up until the last minute to thwart election day attacks.


"We don't know these candidates, not their names, not their programs, not where they've come from. I will not vote for people I don't know," said Hussein Ali, a handyman in Baghdad.


"Until now, we don't know how to vote. I know there is an election center nearby, but I'm not sure exactly where it is."

~snip~

But even Iraqis willing to brave bombs and bullets to vote may have little clue who they are electing until after the event, prompting veteran Iraqi politician Naseer Chaderji to label the Jan. 30 polls the first "secret elections" in history.

I guess it's safe to say that Allawi will win with a huge majority and Iraqis will be out to vote by the millions.

but will create even more "insurgents".

.. kinda like decay, doncha think?