Peregraf- Iraqi Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani chaired a high-level security meeting in Baghdad on Saturday to finalize preparations for Iraq’s parliamentary elections, which will begin with special voting on Sunday and continue with the general ballot on Tuesday.
According to the Media Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister, Al-Sudani visited the Joint Operations Command headquarters and presided over a meeting of the Higher Security Committee for Securing the Elections, joined via video conference by provincial subcommittees, including those in the Kurdistan Region. The briefing covered security deployments, coordination with the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), and readiness measures across civil defense and other support agencies.
IHEC officials informed the Prime Minister that more than 800 international observers are expected to monitor the vote. The committee also noted ongoing efforts to prepare schools for use during and after the elections.
Al-Sudani praised cooperation between IHEC and security forces, stressing Iraq’s commitment to its democratic path despite regional challenges. He later visited the central command center to review detailed operational plans for securing polling centers nationwide throughout both phases of voting.
Key Points from Al-Sudani’s Remarks
* Holding elections on schedule is a major milestone.
* Security forces’ sacrifices over recent years are appreciated.
* Elections reaffirm Iraq’s commitment to peaceful power transfer.
* Leadership must quickly address issues that threaten the voting process.
* Strong security presence provides reassurance to citizens.
* Security bodies must facilitate voter access to polling centers.
* Misuse of authority to influence special voting will not be tolerated.
* No curfew will be enforced on election day.
* Agencies must respond swiftly to misinformation targeting the vote.
* Professional coordination between security forces and IHEC is essential.
* All personnel must remain neutral and avoid political pressure.
Special Voting on November 9
IHEC spokesperson Jumana Ghalai told Peregraf that more than 1.3 million military personnel* are eligible to participate in special voting on Sunday. Balloting will take place at 809 polling centers and 4,501 stations across the country.
A further 26,538 internally displaced persons (IDPs) will vote at 27 polling centers comprising 97 stations.
Parliamentary Race
A total of 6,896 candidates* are running for 329 parliamentary seats, including 302 candidates* in the Kurdistan Region.
Of these seats, 46 are allocated to Erbil, Sulaimaniyah, and Duhok, including *two Christian quota seats—one in each Erbil and Duhok.
More than 20 million Iraqis are eligible to vote in the general election.
Iraq entered its election silence period at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 8. IHEC has instructed all political actors to suspend campaign activities.
IHEC official Hassan Hadi Zayer said violations-via media, events, or online promotion-may result in fines, administrative measures, or disqualification.
Spokesperson Emad Jamil added that votes for excluded candidates will be annulled, even if they received enough ballots to win.
This election cycle began on October 3 and is expected to be among Iraq’s largest, with 21,404,291 biometric-registered voters.
The Kurdistan Region accounts for 3,068,384 voters, or 14.3% of total registered voters.
IHEC urged all parties and candidates to adhere to election regulations to ensure a transparent and credible vote.