In total, 31 alliances, 38 political parties, 23 independent candidates, and 56 quota candidates are competing for 329 parliamentary seats, including nine reserved for minority groups.
Early voting for the legislative elections began on Sunday, with the general process taking place on Tuesday. Polling stations opened at 7 am and will close at 6 pm, with over 1.3 million members of the security forces and over 26,000 IDPs eligible to vote at 4,501 designated stations nationwide.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani was among first Kurdish and Iraqi politicians to cast their ballots early morning.
In a message released by the Kurdistan Region Presidency late Monday, President Barzani urged “all eligible voters to engage actively” in Tuesday’s election, “in a manner that is both civilized and free.” He emphasized that voting is not only “a right, a duty, a message, and a moral obligation,” but also “a national responsibility and a renewed opportunity” to participate in shaping “the next phase of Iraq’s political landscape.”