The special voting process in Iraq’s parliamentary elections began on Sunday morning.
Special voting includes eligible voters from security forces, prisoners, patients, and displaced persons, ahead of the general vote scheduled to take place on Tuesday. This marks the sixth parliamentary election since 2003.
The Independent High Electoral Commission of Iraq confirmed that legal measures will be taken against those who violate the electoral silence period.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) urged responsible participation in the parliamentary elections and called for integrity and independence throughout the process.
More than 7,000 candidates are competing in the legislative elections to fill 329 seats in the Council of Representatives for a four-year term.
According to the 2005 Constitution, Iraq follows a republican, parliamentary, and democratic system. However, this system is based on power-sharing among sectarian and ethnic components, which has become a subject of controversy—with some viewing it as a safeguard for stability, while others see it as a root cause of sectarian quotas, corruption, and obstruction of reform.
On Friday, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani called on citizens to participate in the elections, saying that their participation “will be a clear message about the new Iraq, where its people continue with determination the peaceful transfer of power through the ballot box.”