7,743 candidates competing for 329 parliamentary seats, says electoral commission

BAGHDAD — The Independent High Electoral Commission announced Saturday that 7,743 candidates are contesting 329 seats in Iraq’s parliamentary elections scheduled for November 11.

The total includes 5,496 male and 2,247 female candidates. Of these, 3,225 are running under political parties, 4,443 represent electoral alliances, and 75 are independents — 13 women and 62 men.

The list also includes candidates for minority quota seats: 22 Yazidis, 19 Christians, 14 Sabean-Mandaeans, seven Shabaks, nine Feyli Kurds, and four Turkmen.

Baghdad recorded the highest number of candidates with 2,293, followed by Nineveh with 1,044 and Basra with 567. Other governorates include Erbil with 108, Duhok with 145, Sulaymaniyah with 473, Karbala with 173, Najaf with 141, and Wasit with 245.

In central and southern Iraq, Dhi Qar registered 462 candidates, Babil 379, Qadisiyah 283, and Maysan 100, while Anbar and Salah al-Din recorded 283 and 195 respectively.

Female participation remains notable, with 707 women running in Baghdad, 287 in Dhi Qar, and 165 in Basra.

The parliamentary elections follow Sunday’s special voting, in which more than 1.3 million security personnel and 26,000 displaced voters will cast their ballots ahead of the November 11 general election. Iraq entered its electoral silence period earlier Saturday, suspending campaign activity to create a calm environment for voters.