Early voting concludes in Iraq's national election with high turnout

Security forces cast ballots, freeing them up to maintain order during polling day on Tuesday

An Iraqi soldier prepares to vote at a polling station in Baghdad. AFP

Iraq concluded on Sunday the early voting for security personnel and displaced people ahead of next week's national parliamentary elections with a high turnout, the country's Independent High Electoral Commission announced.

The early voting took place to ensure that the army, police and other security agencies are on duty during election day on Tuesday to maintain security across the country.

A total of 7,768 candidates – 2,248 women and 5,520 men – are competing for 329 parliament seats in the nationwide election. Some 25 per cent of the seats are reserved for women, while nine are held for religious minorities.

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According to IHEC, 1.314 million security personnel and more than 26,500 displaced voters are eligible to take part.

Late on Sunday, IHEC announced that a the voter turnout was 82.42 per cent. The results from Sunday's voting will be announced together with the national parliamentary elections.

Polls opened at 7am local time on Sunday and closed at 6pm across 809 polling centres for security forces. There were also 27 stations serving voters in displacement camps.

The security forces lined up outside the polling centres after being transported by buses or military vehicles. Some wore the Iraqi flag on a scarf, while other held the flag in their hands. After voting, some raised their hands in a victory sign with purple-stained fingers, the indelible ink indicating who has voted in a bid to prevent fraud.

The outcome of Sunday's voting could have far-reaching implications for the wider ballot. Votes cast by security forces could offer a boost to political groups that have influence or connections within the security and military establishment, or candidates that utilise nationalistic and security-focused rhetoric to appeal to the public.

Among security forces taking part are personnel affiliated to the Popular Mobilisation Forces, an umbrella group of mainly Iran-backed Shiite militias that have fought ISIS in recent years and grown more powerful since the extremist group's defeat in 2017.

Displaced Iraqis have their IDs checked before voting at a camp in northern Iraq. AFP

The PMF maintains direct ties to influential political parties and lawmakers. They largely operate outside Iraq's military command and control system, making them more susceptible to manipulation or exploitation during election season.

As of mid-Sunday, the electoral commission said the process "is going smoothly" with the registered turnout at around 60 per cent among security forces, and 38 per cent among displaced people.

Calls to vote

The commission has launched an awareness campaign to encourage security forces personnel to participate.

“Just as you have achieved security through your sacrifices, you will now shape Iraq's future,” says a speaker in one video published by the commission. “Participate today and draw the future of tomorrow.”

Politicians have made similar appeals for security forces to take part, with lawmaker Soud Al Saiedi – a candidate for the Hoquq Movement, a political group backed by powerful Iran-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah – calling on the PMF to vote for him.

Mr Al Saiedi said in his campaign pitch that he had “succeeded in obtaining approvals to waive the debts and loans of the PMF, including martyrs, the wounded and their families”.

“This is a duty we have undertaken to defend you and your rights,” he said in a video on social media.

A woman walks past a banner showing Shiite cleric Moqtada Al Sadr, who is calling for a boycott of the election. Reuters

Electoral silence

Iraq on Saturday entered an electoral silence period, suspending all campaign activity to create a calm environment for voters and to focus media coverage on raising awareness of the electoral process.

Since Thursday, Iraqi security forces have been on high alert nationwide, with many deployed outside polling centres and at checkpoints along major streets.

UN special envoy to Iraq Mohamed Al Hassan visited the headquarters of the electoral commission on Saturday along with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid. They reviewed the “preparations set for holding free, fair and independent parliamentary elections”, according to a statement issued by the UN mission.

Mr Al Hassan expressed “confidence” in the work of polling authorities and called on them to “observe the highest degree of integrity and independence to safeguard the security, interests and future of Iraq”.

There is widespread concern among Iraqi officials that there will be a low turnout, with the country's political process struggling to win public confidence. Calls have been issued to boycott the polls, mainly by influential Shiite leader Moqtada Al Sadr, who has millions of supporters.

Mr Al Sadr's supporters in the security forces boycotted the polls, displaying pictures of themselves clutching their leader's photo with the word: "Boycotters".

Turnout in Iraq's 2021 parliamentary election was 43 per cent, lower than the last election in 2018 when it stood at 44.5 per cent.

The UN envoy encouraged Iraqis to “participate effectively in the electoral process with awareness and responsibility”, urging them to “make good choices of candidates – those capable of serving Iraq”.