Biometric Voter Registration Closes Ahead of 2025 Iraqi Elections: One in Five Kurds Boycott Before the Ballot

21-06-2025 02:52

Peregraf- Sangar Salar

After three extensions and nearly three months of operations, Iraq’s biometric voter registration renewal campaign has officially concluded, marking a critical step in the lead-up to the country’s sixth parliamentary elections scheduled for November 11, 2025. Nationwide, over 80 percent of eligible voters successfully updated their biometric data. In the Kurdistan Region—which accounts for more than 14 percent of Iraq’s electorate—participation was similarly high. However, approximately 700,000 eligible voters, or 18.4 percent of the region’s electorate, failed to renew their registration and are now effectively excluded from the vote—amounting to a pre-election boycott.

In addition to those excluded, many voters who did renew their biometric cards say they still plan to boycott election day, citing deep dissatisfaction with the political process and a belief that the elections will not bring meaningful change.

In the previous parliamentary elections held in October 2021, voter apathy in the Kurdistan Region was already pronounced, the boycott rate reached 59 percent, with spoiled votes accounting for 64.4 percent. Out of over 3.4 million registered voters, fewer than 1.3 million cast valid votes. The boycott rate exceeded 73 percent in Sulaymaniyah and surpassed 64 percent in Erbil.

Over 21 Million Registered Voters, with Kurdistan Region Voters Making Up 14.4%

According to the final data released by the Iraqi Independent High Election Commission (IHEC), a total of 21,400,089 Iraqis renewed their biometric registration during the nationwide campaign that began on May 25. Of that figure, 3,092,275 voters are from the Kurdistan Region, accounting for 14.44% of the overall Iraqi electorate.

Despite the high turnout, a significant portion of eligible voters—especially in the Kurdistan Region—did not complete the process. Based on Peregraf’s analysis and data from regional election officials, an estimated 700,000 voters in the Kurdistan Region, or 18.4% of the total regional electorate, did not renew their registration and are therefore ineligible to vote.

Provincial Breakdown in the Kurdistan Region

  • Sulaimani Province leads the Kurdistan Region with 1,209,380 renewed voters, representing 39.10% of the Kurdistan Region total and 5.65% of Iraq’s total electorate.
  • Erbil Province follows with 1,098,083 renewed voters, comprising 35.51% of the regional total and 5.13% of Iraq’s electorate. The gap between Sulaimani and Erbil stands at just over 111,000 voters, or under 4% at the provincial level.
  • Duhok Province recorded 784,812 renewed voters, making up 25.37% of the Kurdistan Region’s electorate and 3.66% of the national total.

These figures reflect strong voter engagement across most of the Kurdistan Region, but they also highlight gaps in participation that could impact regional representation in Baghdad.

Young Voters and Technical Issues

IHEC reports that many first-time voters, particularly those born in 2007, visited election centers to obtain their voting cards. Others addressed issues such as faulty fingerprint scans or lost cards. Still, a portion of the population remained disengaged despite multiple appeals and deadline extensions.

Uncertainty Ahead of November Elections

While Iraqi authorities, including all major political parties, are pushing to hold the elections as scheduled on November 11, 2025, mounting regional tensions and security concerns—particularly the possibility of escalation in the Israeli-Iranian conflict—have raised the specter of delays.

IHEC continues logistical preparations, but the political and security climate will ultimately shape whether the vote can proceed on time.

The Uncounted: Voter Disengagement Still a Concern

Despite three extensions and widespread public messaging, thousands of eligible voters across Iraq—and particularly in the Kurdistan Region—opted not to participate in the renewal process. A source from the Kurdistan Regional Election Commission told Peregraf, "We estimate about 3.8 million eligible voters in the Kurdistan Region, of which roughly 3.1 million renewed their registration."

That leaves nearly one in five voters in the region unable to cast a ballot in the upcoming elections, potentially reshaping the political landscape and weakening voter influence in national decision-making.

By the Numbers:

  • Total registered voters in Iraq: 21,400,089
  • Total in Kurdistan Region: 3,092,275 (14.45% of Iraq)
  • Sulaimani: 1,209,380 (39.10% of Kurdistan Region)
  • Erbil: 1,098,083 (35.51% of Kurdistan Region)
  • Duhok: 784,812 (25.37% of Kurdistan Region)
  • Unregistered in Kurdistan Region: ~700,000 (18.4%)

As the countdown to the 2025 elections begins, these figures provide a critical snapshot of Iraq’s voter landscape—and a warning of the consequences of political disengagement.

Distribution of Seats in the Iraqi Parliament

The Iraqi Parliament consists of 329 seats, of which 9 are reserved for religious components. The Kurdistan Region holds 44 seats, representing 13.37% of the total.

Seat allocation is based on the population of each province. In the Kurdistan Region:

  • Sulaymaniyah holds the largest share with 18 seats,
  • Followed by Erbil with 15 seats,
  • And Duhok with 11 seats.

Although Halabja is now an officially recognized province, for this election it remains under the administrative framework of Sulaymaniyah and has not been allocated independent parliamentary seats. However, starting from the next election, it is expected to receive its own seat allocation.

For the 2025 elections, Iraq has shifted its electoral system from the Proportional Representation List / Largest Remainder (Baqi al-Aqwi) to the amended Proportional Representation List using the Sainte-Laguë method (with a divisor of 1.7).

According to election experts, "The new system benefits larger political parties, while smaller parties and independent candidates are likely to face greater challenges."