A member of Iraq’s security forces casts his ballot during special voting for the parliamentary elections as polling staff oversee the process at a voting center on Sunday, November 9, 2025.
Special voting underway across Iraq as security personnel and displaced voters cast ballots
BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission said Sunday that special voting for the parliamentary elections began across the country, including the Kurdistan Region, with security personnel and displaced voters casting their ballots from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“The polling stations opened their doors at seven in the morning, and the opening and closing will be electronic,” said Hasan Hadi Zayer, a member of the commission’s media team. “Voting is proceeding smoothly, with continuous coordination between the commission and the security forces. One-third of the personnel are voting while the other two-thirds are guarding the centers until the process ends at six in the evening.”
Zayer confirmed that the vote is taking place “in complete secrecy and without any pressure from any party.” He added that citizens who have not yet collected their voter cards “can visit polling centers to receive them, whether during the special or general voting.”
Judge Omar Ahmed, head of the Board of Commissioners, said the commission had reached full readiness. “During the past period, the commission reached the highest level of preparedness to carry out this national duty,” he said. “At exactly seven in the morning, 4,500 polling stations across Iraq opened their doors.”
Ahmed said all stations were fully equipped with logistical materials, electronic devices, and trained staff “to ensure that voting proceeds smoothly and transparently.”
Commission spokesperson Jumana Al-Ghalai said that 1,313,980 members of the security forces are eligible to vote at 809 polling centers and 4,501 polling stations, while 26,538 displaced voters are casting their ballots at 27 centers and 97 stations.
In Erbil, commission supervisor Mohammad Jalal told 964media that surveillance systems had been installed inside polling centers. “Several cameras have been set up in each polling station to monitor the movement of voters, and in case of any unwanted incident, we can refer to the recordings,” he said, adding that mobile phones are allowed inside polling centers but cannot be used while voting.
Interior Minister Abdul Amir Al-Shammari said the process was running efficiently in Baghdad and other governorates. “During our tour in Baghdad and our review of the governorates, all matters are proceeding smoothly,” he said. “Security personnel are being transported to polling centers in organized groups to ensure ease of voting. The security situation around all centers is secure and stable.”
He said there is “full cooperation and teamwork between the security forces and the electoral commission.”
Iraq entered its electoral silence period Saturday morning, suspending all campaign activity to create a calm environment for voters. Campaigning, which began on October 3, ended with 7,768 candidates competing in the November 11 parliamentary elections.