Overview
- Polling proceeded under tightened security nationwide, with special forces and federal police saturating Sadr City as many stations saw sparse traffic.
- Participation lagged after the Sadrist Movement urged supporters to stay home; only 21.4 million of roughly 32 million eligible updated voter cards.
- The head of the Supreme Judicial Council said holding the vote on Nov. 11 violated the constitution, raising the prospect of legal challenges to the outcome.
- Preliminary tallies are expected within days, and analysts anticipate Mohammed Shia al‑Sudani’s bloc will top the count without a majority, triggering complex coalition talks.
- The contest featured 7,744 candidates for 329 seats, including at least 83 reserved for women, as the United States presses Baghdad to curb Iran‑aligned militias that also fielded candidates.