Baghdad, Iraq – Polling stations opened across Iraq today as citizens cast their ballots in the country’s sixth parliamentary election since the 2003 US-led invasion. The vote is seen as a crucial test for the stability and future of the nation.
According to the Independent High Electoral Commission, voting commenced at 7:00 AM local time and is scheduled to continue until 6:00 PM. Over 20 million Iraqis are registered to vote at approximately 8,703 polling centers, encompassing 39,285 polling stations across Iraq’s 18 provinces, including the Kurdistan Region.
“The electronic voting system will automatically shut down at 6:00 PM,” stated Jumana al-Ghalai, a spokesperson for the Electoral Commission.
A total of 3,225 candidates representing various political parties, 4,443 candidates running on coalition lists, and 75 independent candidates are vying for the 329 seats in the Council of Representatives. Of these seats, 247 are designated for men, 83 for women, and 9 are reserved as quota seats for minorities.
Advance voting for military personnel, security forces, Peshmerga fighters, and Popular Mobilization Forces took place electronically on Sunday.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, who assumed office in 2022 and is seeking a second term, leads the Construction and Development Coalition, comprised of several Shia parties. His campaign focuses on improving public services, combating corruption, and strengthening the authority of the state.
The State of Law Coalition, led by former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, remains a significant political force and competes with al-Sudani’s coalition in the Shia-majority provinces of central and southern Iraq. Several other Shia parties are also contesting the election on separate lists.
The leading Sunni political force is the Progress Party, headed by former Speaker of Parliament Mohammed al-Halbousi. The party’s support base is concentrated in western and northern Iraq, where the Sunni population is predominant. The Progress Party advocates for rebuilding state institutions and empowering Sunni communities after years of conflict and marginalization.
The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), led by Masoud Barzani, dominates the government in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and aims to secure a larger share of the region’s revenue.
