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2h ago

Iraq Votes in Parliamentary Election With Low Turnout Expected as Sadrists Boycott

Expected low turnout signals lengthy coalition talks.

Kurdish security forces wait outside a polling station to vote during a special voting, two days before polls open to the public in a parliamentary election, in Duhok, Iraq, November 9, 2025. REUTERS/Ari Jalal
Kurdish security forces wait to vote outside a polling station during special voting, two days before polls open to the public in a parliamentary election, in Duhok, Iraq, November 9, 2025. REUTERS/Ari Jalal
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani his, right, votes in the country's parliamentary election in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
A displaced man from the Yazidi minority votes during special voting, two days before polls open to the public in a parliamentary election, at the Sharya camp, in Duhok, Iraq, November 9, 2025. REUTERS/Ari Jalal TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Overview

  • Polls opened at 7 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. local time as Iraq elects 329 lawmakers from 7,744 candidates under a system reserving 25% of seats for women and nine for minorities.
  • Only 21.4 million of roughly 32 million eligible citizens registered to vote, and analysts project participation could fall below the record-low 41% seen in 2021.
  • The electoral commission reported about 60% turnout in Sunday’s special vote for security forces and displaced people, with 816,147 of 1,313,980 eligible casting ballots.
  • Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani seeks a second term, with forecasts indicating his bloc may win the most seats without a majority, setting up extended negotiations among Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish parties.
  • Voting is proceeding under tight security with thousands of polling sites open nationwide, while the popular Sadrist Movement is boycotting and the Supreme Judicial Council’s head has flagged the election date as unconstitutional, raising the chance of legal challenges.