Over 1.6M Iraqis Renew Voter Data Ahead of November Polls

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission announced that 1,613,421 voters across the country have renewed their biometric information as of May 27, part of nationwide preparations for the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for November 11, 2025.

The renewal process began on March 25 and focused on updating existing biometric records, rather than registering new voters. It included data corrections, deletions, and updates for displaced individuals and security personnel. Jumana Al-Ghalai, spokesperson for the commission, previously said, “The renewal of biometric data is essential to maintaining an accurate and credible voter list.”

According to the data released by the commission, Nineveh governorate recorded the highest number of renewals with 237,090, followed by Baghdad-Rusafa with 180,177 and Baghdad-Karkh with 165,949. Erbil reached 116,724 renewals, while Sulaymaniyah and Kirkuk had 85,464 and 85,629 respectively. Basra recorded 85,051, and Anbar reported 88,202.

In Duhok, 60,422 voters renewed their biometric records, and in Dhi Qar the number was 79,058. Other governorates such as Salah al-Din (90,980), Diyala (67,675), and Babil (61,781) also posted considerable figures. The lowest renewal counts came from Muthanna, with 21,171, and Maysan, with 26,819.

The biometric system, introduced to prevent voter fraud and duplication, is required under Election Law No. 12 of 2018. The commission extended the deadline to June 15 to allow more voters to complete the renewal and ensure their eligibility to vote in the November elections.

The Department of Political Parties and Organizations has released the final figures for political alliance registration following the end of the official deadline on Thursday, May 22, 2025. The update comes as part of the ongoing preparations for the parliamentary elections scheduled for November. According to the department, there are currently 343 licensed political parties in Iraq, with 60 others still undergoing the registration process. Of these, 118 parties have formally expressed their intent to participate in the elections.

In terms of alliances, 66 were previously registered. Of those, five have received official certification from the Board of Commissioners, while 11 are still pending approval. A total of 25 alliances have declared their intention to contest the elections, in addition to 16 individual electoral lists that have submitted requests to participate. The figures reflect the initial political landscape shaping up for the upcoming vote.