ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The campaign period for Iraq’s parliamentary election came to an end on Saturday morning, a day before early voting and three days ahead of the public vote. All parties are now prohibited from campaigning or promoting their candidates.
"Campaigning came to an end at 7:00am on Saturday and will continue until the end of the general voting process," said Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC).
"Any campaign or promotional activity by candidates or electoral lists during this period is a clear violation of the regulations, and legal action will be taken against violators,” it added.
"The purpose of the campaign silence is to create a calm and balanced environment that allows voters to think freely and choose their representatives without last-minute influence or campaigning,” IHEC said.
It called on political parties and media outlets to "fully adhere to the campaign silence regulations to preserve the integrity of the electoral process and ensure equal opportunities for all."
Parliamentary elections are scheduled for November 11, with 29 million people eligible to vote. However, only those possessing biometric voting cards will be allowed to cast their ballots.
The early vote on Sunday is for members of security forces, inmates, and health workers. More than 1.3 million people will vote on Sunday, including over 276,000 in the Kurdistan Region, according to the IHEC.