Iraqis headed to the polls on Tuesday to elect a new parliament, in an election widely expected to maintain the dominance of the same traditional alliances and major parties that have shaped the country’s politics for years.
More than 21 million voters are eligible to cast their ballots across 8,700 polling stations, to elect 329 members of parliament for a four-year term.
The Kurdistan Region has been allocated 46 seats in the national assembly.
A total of 7,740 candidates are competing, representing a broad spectrum of political and sectarian movements.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani praised the atmosphere at polling stations, describing it as “secure and stable.”
Conversely, the Sadrist movement has boycotted the election, calling the process “corrupt and compromised.”
The Independent High Electoral Commission is expected to announce preliminary results within 24 hours after polls close.
