Kurdistan Parliamentary election campaigns end at midnight tonight with five days to go

ERBIL — Today marks the final day of the campaign period for the sixth Kurdistan Parliamentary elections, as set by Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission. According to officials from the commission, no decision has been made to extend the campaign period, which will end at midnight tonight.

The campaign began on Sept. 25 and has seen 20 days of public gatherings and political activities. It will officially conclude at 12:00 a.m. today. Marwan Mohammed, the head of IHEC’s Erbil branch, told 964media: “There has been no decision so far to extend the campaign period, so it will end at the scheduled time.”

Special voting for security forces will be held on October 18, followed by the general election on October 20, which will determine the makeup of the sixth Kurdistan Parliament.

The election is divided into four constituencies: Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, and Halabja. In Erbil, 34 seats are up for election, with two reserved for Christian and Turkmen minorities. Sulaymaniyah offers 38 seats, also with two reserved for Christian and Turkmen minorities, while Duhok has 25 seats, including one for the Christian Armenian minority. Halabja has three seats available.

Political parties are expected to hold their final public rallies and speeches today, addressing supporters before the election period ends. A total of 2,899,578 voters are registered to participate, including 2,683,618 general voters and 215,960 special voters, such as security personnel and prisoners.

Across the 136 electoral lists, 1,191 candidates are competing, with 38 representing minority groups. The number of candidates varies by region, with Erbil fielding 395, Sulaymaniyah 516, Duhok 266, and Halabja 54. Among these, 823 candidates are men, and 368 are women.

This election marks a significant moment in determining the future composition of the Kurdistan Parliament, and the results will shape the region’s political landscape.