Millions of Iraqis head to polls to elect new parliament

Millions of Iraqi citizens are voting Tuesday in parliamentary elections that will define the country's political landscape for the coming four-year term. The electoral process will determine the composition of the 329-seat Council of Representatives, which holds responsibility for selecting Iraq's president and approving the incoming government.

Candidate Diversity and Electoral Quotas

According to Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission, 7,743 candidates are competing in the election, including 2,247 female contenders. Iraqi electoral law mandates that women occupy no less than 25% of parliamentary seats (at least 83 positions), while an additional nine seats are reserved for representatives from religious and ethnic minority communities across provincial and national levels.

Voter Participation and Electoral Procedures

Approximately 21 million registered voters are eligible to participate in Tuesday's election, with Baghdad accounting for the largest voting bloc at nearly 2.4 million eligible citizens. Polling stations opened at 7:00 a.m. local time (0400 GMT) and will close at 6:00 p.m. (1500 GMT), with officials confirming no extensions to voting hours.

Results Timeline and Government Formation

Election authorities have indicated that preliminary results will be announced within 24 hours of polls closing, though official confirmation will follow a period for reviewing potential appeals. The outcome will initiate the process of forming Iraq's next government, a development closely monitored by regional partners including Türkiye given its implications for Middle Eastern stability and cross-border cooperation.