(CNN)  -- A move is afoot to make the oil-rich province of Basra a more potent political and economic power in Iraq. Along with provincial elections in Iraq, residents in Basra may also be voting to become an autonomous region. Lawmakers have started a drive that would give the Shiite-dominated province the status of a federal region -- the same legal power as the multi-province autonomous region of Kurdistan in northern Iraq. The move would usher in self-government and could boost oil income in Basra, although the organizers of the drive have indicated they would be more cooperative with the central Iraqi government than Kurdistan is on oil matters.
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Petition drive under way for a Basra region referendum
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Referendum to be held if 10 percent of 1.4 million registered voters sign up
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Regions have right to form constitutions, government branches, security forces
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Basra province produces a lot of oil and is next to body of water
The Kurds have had their three-province autonomous region in the north for years, and the central government and the Kurds have had their disagreements: The @placeholder have used their autonomy to pursue oil contracts that aren't recognized by Iraq's central government.