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Iraq Votes Under Heavy Security as Sadrist Boycott Lowers Turnout

Iraq's top judicial body has challenged the legality of the Nov. 11 election date.

Overview

  • Parliamentary polls were held nationwide on Tuesday after early voting for security personnel and displaced people, with 8,703 polling stations open.
  • Only about 21.4 million of an estimated 32 million eligible voters had updated cards, indicating participation below 2021 levels.
  • Sadr City polling sites were largely empty as special forces and federal police enforced tight security in Sadrist strongholds.
  • The Supreme Judicial Council declared the Nov. 11 timing unconstitutional and said the vote had originally been set for Nov. 24.
  • Preliminary results are expected within days, and analysts project Mohammed Shia al Sudani as the frontrunner without a clear majority, as U.S. officials continue pressing Baghdad to curb Iran‑aligned militias.