A parliamentary election candidate is seen following his arrest in Baghdad on charges of buying voter cards in exchange for promises of jobs or social welfare stipends. Authorities said four aides were also detained and voter cards, registers, and campaign records were seized.
Baghdad
Iraq’s anti-corruption body arrests election candidate on vote-buying charges
BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Federal Integrity Commission said Thursday it arrested a parliamentary election candidate and four of his aides in Baghdad on charges of buying voter cards in exchange for promises of government jobs or social welfare stipends.
The commission said in a statement, “The Federal Integrity Commission commends the role of citizens in reporting violations of the electoral process, noting that this reflects their awareness of the importance of safeguarding democracy and holding free and fair elections away from political money and the purchase of votes.”
The commission said the arrests were carried out in coordination with the Karkh Second Court judge and the National Security Service. A team from its Baghdad investigations directorate was formed after receiving information that two members of a candidate’s campaign were buying voter cards in exchange for jobs or monthly welfare payments.
According to the statement, investigators raided a building used by the campaign in central Baghdad, where they arrested two aides, including the campaign manager. Inside, they found photocopies of voter cards, forms listing voters’ names, electoral numbers, centers, stations, and governorates, along with two registers containing names, phone numbers, and addresses of voters.
The commission added that another aide was found inside the office with additional forms, photocopied voter cards, registers, six mobile phones, and a computer. After documenting their statements, the Central Anti-Corruption Court issued arrest warrants for the candidate and another suspect. The candidate was later apprehended in coordination with the Maysan investigations office and transferred to Baghdad to face a judge, who ordered his detention pending investigation.
The commission also reminded citizens that it has allocated the free hotline (5080) for reporting electoral violations and allegations of vote-buying. It noted that it has issued a 2025 electoral code of conduct to prevent misuse of state resources for campaigning and to strengthen public confidence in the neutrality of state institutions.
The arrest follows recent warnings by Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission, which on June 29 said that buying or selling biometric voter cards and misusing state resources for campaigning are electoral crimes punishable by law. The commission said offenders, including candidates and political parties, could face criminal charges, disqualification, or loss of party approval ahead of the Nov. 11 parliamentary elections.
In late April, Iraqi security forces arrested a man in Nineveh governorate on charges of trafficking more than 1,100 voter identification cards, according to the judiciary’s media office. The commission has issued multiple warnings in recent months about card tampering, fraudulent registration practices and abuse of state institutions during the campaign period.