'Process has been smooth'

High voter turnout reported in special voting for Kurdistan Region elections despite ‘minor’ hiccups

ERBIL — Special voting for the 2024 Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections concluded Thursday evening with high turnout rates across the region’s four governorates. Polling stations were open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., serving members of the Peshmerga, police, and internal security forces. According to the Independent High Electoral Commission, nearly 216,000 eligible voters were able to participate in this crucial voting session.

As of midday, the highest turnout was recorded in Duhok with 77%, followed by Erbil at 70%, Sulaymaniyah at 67%, and Halabja at 64%. A spokesperson from IHEC said, “The process has been smooth, and we have not encountered any significant disruptions that could impact the voting process.”

While the voting process proceeded without major issues, a few minor violations were reported. Hoger Chato, head of the Shams Monitoring Network, noted: “The overall environment of the special voting has been positive, with no major incidents.” However, he did observe some minor infractions, such as individuals bringing mobile phones into polling stations and political propaganda too close to voting centers.

Mobile phones had been banned from polling booths by the commission in an attempt to prevent parties from demanding proof of voting choice.

A member of the Kurdish Peshmerga security forces stands guard(Photo by AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP)

A member of the Kurdish Peshmerga security forces stands guard(Photo by AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP)

Additionally, some voters experienced technical difficulties, particularly with the biometric systems used to validate voter IDs. In Halabja, one voter, Mohammed Haidar, shared his frustration: “I tried around 30 times to scan my biometric card, but the machine failed to read it.”

The election process was monitored by both local and international organizations. The Shams Network deployed 600 observers for the special voting, with additional teams ready for the general election on Oct. 20.

Members of the Kurdish Peshmerga security forces vote at a polling station (Photo by AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP)

Members of the Kurdish Peshmerga security forces vote at a polling station (Photo by AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP)

The electoral commission also emphasized the use of stringent safeguards to ensure the integrity of the voting process. Voters’ biometric cards are deactivated for 72 hours after casting their ballot, preventing them from voting twice, said an IHEC official. After casting their vote, individuals’ biometric cards were immediately locked, and a system was in place to automatically deactivate all polling equipment at 6 p.m.

A member of the Kurdish Peshmerga, accompanied by a child, leaves a booth with her ballot (Photo by Safin HAMID / AFP)

A member of the Kurdish Peshmerga, accompanied by a child, leaves a booth with her ballot (Photo by Safin HAMID / AFP)

By 6 p.m., all polling stations across the Kurdistan Region closed as planned, with all 165 designated voting centers shutting down without incident. A statement from IHEC confirmed that the polling stations had operated smoothly throughout the day, without significant delays or disruptions.

Members of the Kurdish Peshmerga security forces show their ink-stained fingers after casting their ballots ahead of the Oct. 20 (Photo by Ahmad Al-rubaye / AFP)

Members of the Kurdish Peshmerga security forces show their ink-stained fingers after casting their ballots ahead of the Oct. 20 (Photo by Ahmad Al-rubaye / AFP)

This special voting, which accounted for 7.4% of the total electorate in the Kurdistan Region, comes two days ahead of the general election on Oct. 20. Nearly 2.9 million voters are expected to participate in the broader election, selecting representatives for the sixth Kurdistan Parliament.

Over 1,100 candidates from 136 electoral lists will compete for seats, with 38 candidates representing minority groups such as Christians, Turkmen, and Armenians.

Members of the Kurdish Peshmerga security forces queue at a polling (Photo by AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP)

Members of the Kurdish Peshmerga security forces queue at a polling (Photo by AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP)