Iraqi workers lower a cement barrier onto the sidewalk of a bridge crossing the Tigris River in Kadhimiya on Thursday night. The barrier will be used by security forces during Sunday's election. Barriers have been placed by the 10th Mountain Division's 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment throughout their area of operations. (Jason Chudy / S&S)
BAGHDAD — Preparations for Sunday’s elections are affecting soldiers throughout Iraq, but probably none more than the Polar Bears of 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment.
The battalion’s area of operations encompasses the three northwestern Baghdad districts of Kadhimiya, Hurriya and Shulla. Altogether, they have 124 polling sites, which represent nearly 48 percent of the sites in 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division’s sector and about 25 percent of the city’s total.
“That’s tremendous for one battalion,” said Capt. Blake Keil, the battalion’s fire support and information operations officer.
Polling sites were chosen by the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq. A list of the sites was passed down to Iraqi National Guard, police and U.S. forces.
With between 700,000 and 1 million residents in their area — out of the city’s 5 million population — these three districts have a higher percentage of polling sites than many other areas.
“I think a lot has to do with the territory we have,” Keil said of their operating area. “Having a Shiia majority … it’s a fairly safe place to vote.”
The country’s Shiite majority, for the most part, is backing the elections and the battalion’s neighborhoods are relatively less dangerous than many others.
Keil said they also expect voters from other areas to come and vote in one of those three districts.
U.S. forces are trying to remain behind the scenes, letting the Iraqis direct the entire election process as much as possible.
“They are running the whole election,” Keil said. “They are going to be the face of this election.”
Iraqi police and Iraqi national guardsmen, rather than U.S. troops, will be at all the polling sites in their area.
“I think they’re excited and we’re excited [for them],” he said. “For the IP and ING, we feel it’s their show and they’re ready to handle it.”
Soldiers have been checking all the polling sites to ensure that they have the required Iraqi security forces.
They’ve checked everything from the number of police and guardsmen, to their ammunition supply and whether or not they’ve been getting meals.
Some hadn’t been getting food regularly, so U.S. troops stepped in, providing special Meals, Ready-to-Eat-type servings that met Muslim guidelines.
And the soldiers have been setting up barriers. Lots of barriers.
“It’s a scarce resource,” Keil said of the barriers. “We’re doing the best we can; everybody wants them.”
The battalion has also been placing concrete barriers and concertina wire around polling sites and other key areas in an effort to bolster their defense against car bombs and other insurgent attacks.
It has also repositioned barriers as polling sites change, as election officials move some to more secure locations.
“We’ll be refining our security plan up to, and through, the elections,” Keil said.
To help them meet that plan and meet their other operational requirements, the battalion has been augmented with a company from the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, and a mechanized platoon from the 2nd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment.
The elections, said Spc. Aaron Locke of Company A’s Headquarters Platoon, have been taking up much of the battalion’s time. “In the last week, 100 percent,” he said.
“I think we’re stretched to the limit,” Keil said. “We can do the mission but we’re at our limit.”
For the soldiers, and many Iraqis alike, Sunday’s elections won’t come soon enough.
