Iraq’s electoral commission emphasizes readiness for Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections

BAGHDAD – The Independent High Electoral Commission declared on Tuesday that all technical and logistical preparations are fully in place for the upcoming Kurdistan Parliament elections due to be held on October 20, while emphasizing its commitment to a transparent and impartial process.

In a press conference, Chairman Omar Ahmed assured that the commission is well-prepared to manage the election without interference. “The commission will manage the elections successfully and will not allow any entity to interfere or manipulate the results,” Ahmed stated firmly. He stressed that all voting devices have undergone advanced testing and that the process will include both electronic and manual counting to ensure accuracy.

Ahmed also reiterated that the commission, along with the Board of Commissioners and the central committee, will oversee the elections professionally, ensuring equal treatment of all political parties involved. He underlined the commission’s role in safeguarding the integrity of the process, making it clear that no external party would be allowed to influence or tamper with the results.

The campaign for the Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections officially began on September 10 and will continue until midnight on October 15. The election day is set for October 20, following an extended five-day period of election silence. A total of 100 seats will be contested in the Kurdistan Parliament, with 95 general seats and 5 reserved for minority quotas. Of the general seats, 30 are allocated for women. Sulaymaniyah will hold 38 general seats, Erbil 34, Duhok 25, and Halabja three.

A total of 2,899,578 voters have registered for the elections, including 2,683,618 general voters and 215,960 special voters, which consist of security personnel and prisoners. There are 1,191 candidates running across 136 electoral lists, with 38 candidates representing minority groups. By region, Erbil has 395 candidates, Sulaymaniyah 516, Duhok 266, and Halabja 54. Among the candidates, 823 are men and 368 are women.