"Eligible" citizens?

[Grok]

"The Iraqi people voted for democracy last December -- 75 percent of the eligible citizens went to the polls to vote," Bush said.

Who all was not eligible to vote of the Iraqi citizens?  I thought all citizens there could vote.  Does anyone know a definitive answer and have a source?

[MyndFyre]

Well, I don't have a source, but I think you *might* be grasping for straws.

In Rome, only male landowners were "citizens."

In the United States, citizens under the age of 18 are ineligible.

I think you might be overreacting.

[CrAz3D]

Well, I don't have a source, but I think you *might* be grasping for straws.

In Rome, only male landowners were "citizens."

In the United States, citizens under the age of 18 are ineligible.

I think you might be overreacting.

I don't think felons are eligble here, are they?

I recall (maybe) reading that Arta or Adron said people over 75 can't vote in their country.

Didn't we only have like 50% of our eligble citizens voting last time (which was a bigger turn out than normal)?

[DarkMinion]

Totally depends on their legal system.

[Grok]

When you are selecting an entirely new constitution and government, I would hope every citizen is  an eligible citizen.  No, I"m not grappling for straws, I'm querying the voting parameters.  Post 9/11, too many people did not ask enough questions about rather important things.  As a programmer, surely your eyes are drawn to possible bounds problems?  I remember in months before the "election" there were scattered reports of many Iraqi regions not being considered as having a voice in the new government.  Incidentally, was this a communist style election where there was only one choice?  Could you only approve or disapprove of the new constitution?  Were there not several styles of government to choose from or did we the conquerers present a specific style of government, select who were eligible voters, and have them vote up or down?  Or was it they didnt get to vote on the style of government, but only on the citizens being elected to the offices in that new government?  Ergo, giving their implicit approval of the republic?  I've never seen enough details in the news to know.

[Arta]

I recall (maybe) reading that Arta or Adron said people over 75 can't vote in their country.

Certainly not me.

[Joe[x86]]

Totally depends on their legal system.

They don't have a legal system. That's why they're voting for one.

[DarkMinion]

Wrong, Islamic law is and probably always will be enforced in Iraq.  Who do you think is trying Saddam?

[MyndFyre]

When you are selecting an entirely new constitution and government, I would hope every citizen is  an eligible citizen.

Does that include a two-year-old citizen?

I'm not trying to be an asshole; I'm just saying, there are reasonable limits and sometimes good reasons that certain people are not eligible.

[Grok]

When you are selecting an entirely new constitution and government, I would hope every citizen is  an eligible citizen.

Does that include a two-year-old citizen?

I'm not trying to be an asshole; I'm just saying, there are reasonable limits and sometimes good reasons that certain people are not eligible.

And I'm simply asking what were the parameters for "eligible citizen" in Iraq's voting for their new government.  You're suggesting 2-year olds were not eligible, while I'm wondering if entire population segments (i.e. Kurds in the north, or other cultural segments within Iraq's borders) were not included in the definition of eligible.  Since you're very smart, I'm sure you know what I meant and I cannot figure out why you're afraid of someone asking a reasonable question.

[MyndFyre]

And I'm simply asking what were the parameters for "eligible citizen" in Iraq's voting for their new government.  You're suggesting 2-year olds were not eligible, while I'm wondering if entire population segments (i.e. Kurds in the north, or other cultural segments within Iraq's borders) were not included in the definition of eligible.  Since you're very smart, I'm sure you know what I meant and I cannot figure out why you're afraid of someone asking a reasonable question.

No, the noninclusion of those groups based on their culture/region/religion did not even enter my mind as a possibility for why you would ask to define these parameters.

I can't imagine the US would permit a noninclusive constitution to be written, or that any ethnic groups be excluded.

[Thing [vL]]

http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0128/p10s02-woiq.html

[Adron]

Only those with valid ration cards are eligible. So I guess that means only those in favor of the UN food programme.

[MyndFyre]

Only those with valid ration cards are eligible. So I guess that means only those in favor of the UN food programme.

You misread.  Only those with valid ration cards were considered registered.  All citizens over the age of 18 were eligible.

[Adron]

Only those with valid ration cards are eligible. So I guess that means only those in favor of the UN food programme.

You misread.  Only those with valid ration cards were considered registered.  All citizens over the age of 18 were eligible.

Hmm, they were required to prove their citizenship to be eligible, I was assuming that was the registration process. Which required the ration card?