Iraqi President Reviews Final Preparations for National Elections at IHEC Headquarters
Peregraf- Iraqi President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid visited the headquarters of the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) on Saturday to review final preparations for the upcoming national elections. During the visit, the President stressed the importance of ensuring *fair and transparent elections that reflect the true will of the voters.
President Rashid met with IHEC Chairman Judge Omar Ahmed Mohammed and members of the Board of Commissioners, in the presence of the UN Secretary-General’s Representative for Iraq, Mohammed Al-Hassan. According to the Iraqi Presidency media office, the President called on all Iraqis to turn out in large numbers, describing voter participation as "a vital step in strengthening democracy and consolidating security and stability."
"The democratic path of Iraq must continue with sincere national will to fulfill the aspirations of our people through fair and transparent elections that reflect the true will of the voters," President Rashid said.
UN representative Mohammed Al-Hassan welcomed the President’s visit, saying it reflects his personal commitment to free and credible elections. "The eyes of the world will be on Iraq on November 11 — a defining moment in its modern history," he added, noting that Iraq’s elections are among "the most independent in the Middle East."
IHEC Chairman Judge Omar Ahmed Mohammed described the visit as "a great honor" for the Commission and an affirmation of the Presidency’s support for the electoral process. He provided a detailed briefing on the Commission’s operational readiness, security measures, and efforts to ensure an accessible voting environment.
President Rashid also observed a comprehensive simulation of the voting process, praising the professionalism and organization demonstrated by IHEC staff. He expressed confidence that these preparations "will lead to free elections that genuinely reflect the aspirations of Iraqis for a better future" and reiterated that the priority is to conduct fair and transparent elections that reflect the true will of the voters.
Special Voting and Parliamentary Race
IHEC spokesperson Jumana Ghalai told Peregraf that more than 1.3 million military personnel are eligible to participate in special voting on Sunday, November 9, across 809 polling centers and 4,501 stations nationwide. Additionally, 26,538 internally displaced persons (IDPs) will vote at 27 centers comprising 97 stations.
A total of 6,896 candidates are contesting 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 each in 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. Official Hassan Hadi Zayer warned that violations through 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 receive sufficient ballots.
This election cycle, which began on October 3, 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 the total. IHEC has urged all parties and candidates to strictly adhere to election regulations to ensure *fair and transparent elections that reflect the true will of the voters.