Polling stations across Iraq closed at 6 PM local time today, marking the end of a day of voting characterized by varying levels of participation across the country’s governorates. Over 8,700 polling centers were open, operating under tight security and organizational measures.
From Baghdad, our correspondent reports that voter turnout ranged from weak to moderate during the day, increasing in the final two hours before closing. The electoral commission immediately commenced electronic counting and sorting operations in preparation for manual verification. The process proceeded smoothly, without significant incidents.
Reportedly, participation in the Karkh district did not exceed 23%, while in Rusafa, it fell to approximately 18%, particularly in Sadr City, where supporters of the Sadrist movement were largely absent following their call for a boycott. The commission has received a limited number of complaints from political entities, which are being reviewed according to established procedures.
In the south, our correspondent in Basra indicates that the electoral process proceeded smoothly without any major violations. Voter turnout varied between rural areas, which saw significant participation, and urban areas, which were quieter. Women and the elderly formed the largest segment of voters, while youth participation was comparatively limited. Some centers completed their procedures by issuing immediate electronic reports detailing voter numbers and participation rates for each bloc, to be later cross-referenced with manual counts using the approved electronic system.
From Najaf, it is reported that voter turnout increased from approximately 16% at midday to nearly 25% in the final hours of voting, attributed to increased participation in religious areas and the old city center. The Najaf electoral commission confirmed that no significant violations were recorded and began destroying unused ballot papers to prevent potential manipulation. Observers from political entities received results tapes at the end of the day, and all parties await the final statement from the commission.
