Iraq’s electoral commission sets Friday start date for 2025 election campaigning

BAGHDAD – Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission announced Wednesday that campaigning for the 2025 parliamentary elections will begin on Friday, Oct. 3, following final approval of candidate lists. The nationwide vote is scheduled for Nov. 11.

“The Council of Commissioners today approved the lists of candidates who are entitled to participate in the 2025 elections for the Council of Representatives,” the commission said in a statement.

It added that campaigning for approved candidates will officially start on Oct. 3 and continue until 7 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8.

A total of 7,768 candidates have been approved, including 2,248 women and 5,520 men.

The commission previously announced that 1.31 million security and military personnel will cast ballots in special voting on Nov. 9 to allow them to remain deployed on election day. Their biometric voter cards will be disabled for 72 hours after voting to prevent duplicate use, according to spokesperson Nebras Abu Souda.

An estimated 26,538 displaced persons are also eligible to vote, and Iraqis abroad will have their ballots counted in their original governorates, provided they are registered with biometric cards.

The commission said on Sept. 20 that more than 23 million ballot papers are being printed under tight security in the United Arab Emirates. That total includes 22,046,200 ballots for the general vote and 1,509,300 for special voting, with additional reserves. The papers feature hidden marks, security inks, and anti-counterfeit elements similar to those used in banknotes.