Special Voting for Iraq’s Parliamentary Elections Concludes with High Turnout in Kurdistan Region

Peregraf- Special voting for Iraq’s parliamentary elections concluded at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, with electronic ballot devices officially shut down across the country.

The Kurdistan Region recorded the highest turnout rates, led by Erbil at 97%, followed by Sulaymaniyah at 95% and Duhok at 88%.

Officials attributed the relatively lower turnout in Duhok to the province’s high population of internally displaced persons (IDPs). Although 26,000 IDPs were eligible to vote there, participation among them was lower compared to other groups, reducing the overall tally.

According to figures provided to Peregraf by IHEC spokesperson Jumana Ghalay, 1,313,908 Iraqis were eligible to take part in Saturday’s special voting phase. Balloting took place in 809 centers comprising 4,501 polling stations nationwide.

In the Kurdistan Region alone, 270,219 members of the security forces from the Ministry of Peshmerga and the Ministry of Interior were registered to vote. Across Iraq, more than one million security personnel were expected to participate in the special polling.

Additionally, 26,538 IDPs were eligible to cast ballots at 27 voting centers equipped with 97 polling stations designated for displaced communities.

This election will determine the composition of the country’s 329-seat parliament, with 6,896 candidates competing nationwide. Of these, 302 candidates are running in the Kurdistan Region, which collectively holds 46 parliamentary seats, including two quota seats for Christians—one in Erbil and one in Duhok.