Voter turnout in Iraq’s parliamentary elections reached 56.11%, the country’s Independent High Election Commission announced Wednesday.
In a statement, the commission reported that 12,009,453 citizens cast their votes to elect members of the 329-seat parliament. Of these, 10,904,637 Iraqis voted on Tuesday, marking a 54.35% turnout, while 1,084,289 military and security personnel and 20,527 displaced persons participated in Sunday’s special voting, with 82.52% and 77.35% turnout, respectively.
The commission said preliminary results would be announced on Wednesday evening. A total of 7,743 candidates, including 2,247 women, competed in the elections.
Iraq’s current parliamentary term began on January 9, 2022, and lasts four years. Under Iraqi law, elections must be held at least 45 days before the end of the current term. Shia parties and blocs hold a majority in the existing legislature, where power is traditionally divided among Iraq’s main communities: the presidency goes to the Kurds, the premiership to the Shias, and the speakership of parliament to the Sunnis.
