Iraq’s electoral commission urges voter registration ahead of 2025 elections

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission spokesperson Jumana Al-Ghalai on Tuesday described the ongoing voter register update as “the first and essential phase in the electoral process.”

In remarks to the state-owned Iraqi News Agency, Al-Ghalai called on citizens to visit voter registration centers to update their information ahead of the country’s next parliamentary elections. She emphasized the importance of registering security personnel, internally displaced persons, first-time voters, and those born in 2007, a group that includes more than 1 million potential voters.

Al-Ghalai also clarified that Iraqis living abroad must return to the country to vote, as “voting does not currently take place through embassies,” in accordance with Parliament Elections Law No. 12 of 2018.

IHEC began updating the national voter register on Tuesday. The process will continue for one month and is being conducted at 1,079 centers across all Iraqi governorates.

Iraq’s next parliamentary elections are scheduled to take place no later than Nov. 25, 2025, as mandated by the constitution. In January, the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council extended the term of IHEC’s Board of Commissioners for two years after their previous term expired on Jan. 7.

Jumana Al-Ghalai’s statement to Iraqi News Agency:

A press conference was held to explain the procedures for updating the voter register, as it represents the first and essential phase in the electoral process.

Media is a key partner in conveying accurate information and promoting electoral awareness.

I call on all voters to visit registration centers to make the necessary updates, including removing names in cases of death, correcting data, and transferring registration between governorates or within the same governorate.

I stress the necessity of registering security forces, internally displaced persons, citizens registering for the first time, and those born in 2007, who number over one million new voters.

IDPs registration will be conducted inside the camps, while Sinjar IDPs are allowed to update their biometric data either inside or outside the camps.

Iraqi electoral law requires [citizens residing abroad] to come to Iraq to update their date and participate in voting. According to Iraqi Parliament Elections Law No. 12 of 2018, voting does not currently take place through embassies, and this option has not been presented among the Board of Commissioners’ decisions to date.

The Commission emphasizes the importance of updating voter data to ensure effective participation in the upcoming elections, calling on everyone to take advantage of the period allocated for this purpose.