Iraq’s electoral commission extends voter registration update period by one month

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission has extended the national voter registration update period by one month starting Thursday, April 24, as part of ongoing efforts to boost participation in the country’s upcoming parliamentary elections.

The extension was approved by the Board of Commissioners following recommendations from the commission’s operations and IT department.

“The Board of Commissioners has decided to approve the extension of the voter roll update process for a period of one month starting from Thursday, April 24, 2025,” the commission said in a statement.

On March 26, IHEC spokesperson Jumana al-Ghalai described the registry update as “the first and essential phase in the electoral process,” urging Iraqis to visit one of 1,079 registration centers nationwide. In remarks to the Iraqi News Agency, she emphasized the inclusion of first-time voters, internally displaced persons, security personnel and individuals born in 2007 — a group representing more than 1 million potential new voters.

Al-Ghalai also noted that Iraqis abroad must return home to vote, as “voting does not currently take place through embassies,” under the Parliament Elections Law No. 12 of 2018.

The update comes as Iraq prepares for legislative elections scheduled for Nov. 11. The commission has confirmed it is ready to oversee the vote.