Peregraf
The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) has officially approved the lists of candidates eligible to participate in Iraq’s parliamentary elections, scheduled for November 11, 2025.
IHEC spokesperson Jumana Ghalai told Peregraf on Wednesday that the Board of Commissioners has also set Friday, October 3, 2025, as the official start date for candidates’ election campaigns.
Ghalai added that the number of approved candidates stands at 7,768, including 2,248 women and 5,520 men. She noted that the campaign period for all approved candidates will end at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 8, 2025, just days before Iraqis head to the polls.
The decision marks a significant step in preparations for the vote, which IHEC has pledged will be conducted with the highest standards of security and transparency.
On September 20, the commission confirmed that ballot papers for the elections are being printed under strict security protocols to safeguard the integrity of the process. Ghalai said that 22,046,200 ballot papers have been allocated to the general electorate, while 1,509,300 are designated for special voting categories. Additional reserves have also been approved to address logistical and operational needs.
According to Ghalai, the ballots include hidden security markers, specialized inks visible only with certain devices, anti-copying technology, and specially manufactured paper containing markers similar to those used in banknotes—all measures designed to prevent fraud.
She further revealed that half of the printing process has already been completed in the United Arab Emirates, with the remainder expected to be finalized in line with the commission’s timeline.
The announcements come as IHEC works to reassure voters and political parties that the electoral process will be transparent, credible, and secure ahead of Iraq’s 2025 Council of Representatives elections.