Halabja not yet eligible as separate electoral district, election commission says

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission said Halabja cannot yet be treated as a separate electoral district in the next parliamentary elections, citing legal and administrative steps that must follow its recent recognition as Iraq’s 19th governorate.

On Monday, Parliament voted to grant Halabja full governorate status, officially separating it from Sulaymaniyah’s jurisdiction and elevating it to governorate level.

Commission spokesperson Jumana Al-Ghalai told the state news agency that Halabja’s inclusion as an electoral district requires a formal amendment to the electoral law and a determination of its seat allocation.

“The adoption of Halabja as an electoral district must be translated into an amendment to the electoral law and a determination of the number of seats for this new governorate,” Al-Ghalai said.

She added that the process remains in its early stages. “The law must be ratified by the president, published in the official gazette, and then enforced through a presidential decree that establishes the governorate and defines its administrative boundaries,” she said. “That would be followed by the creation of local administrative units, including the electoral office. The electoral law must then be amended to set the number of seats based on the population.”

Iraq’s next parliamentary elections are scheduled for Nov. 11, 2025. The prime minister’s office has confirmed the date, and the electoral commission has announced its readiness to conduct the vote.