Al-Sudani urges Iraqis to vote, calling turnout a constitutional right

BAGHDAD — Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani on Wednesday called on Iraqis to take part in the upcoming parliamentary elections, describing voting as both a constitutional right and a national responsibility that will shape the country’s future.

“We stress the importance of active and responsible participation in the upcoming elections, as it is a constitutional right for every citizen and will define the country’s course for the next four years,” Al-Sudani said during a meeting with tribal sheikhs and community leaders in Baghdad, according to a statement from his media office.

Iraq is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections on Nov. 11. The Independent High Electoral Commission said special voting for security and military personnel will take place on November 9, while the electoral silence period begins on November 8.

Voter turnout in recent elections has been low. The 2018 poll recorded 44.5% participation, one of the lowest since 2003, while turnout dropped to 41% in the 2021 vote held after mass anti-government protests. Even that figure is widely viewed as inflated, as the electoral commission calculates turnout based only on registered voters who hold biometric ID cards, rather than on the total number of eligible voters.

Al-Sudani leads the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, which is participating in Iraq’s parliamentary vote for the first time. His political movement, Al-Furatayn, won one seat in 2021, later rising to three following the resignation of Sadrist lawmakers.

He became prime minister in October 2022 after months of political gridlock that followed the 2021 elections. His government was formed through consensus among the Coordination Framework, Kurdish, and Sunni blocs.

Earlier this week, Al-Sudani met with Mohamed Al Hassan, the UN Secretary-General’s special representative for Iraq. “The government is determined to ensure the success of the elections and to provide full support to the Commission so that the results genuinely reflect the will of the Iraqi people,” he said at the time.