IHEC Opens Polling for Parliamentary Elections in Kurdistan Region

ERBIL: The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) of Iraq announced the opening of polling stations on Sunday, marking the start of general voting for parliamentary elections in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The electoral process is a significant event for the region, involving over 2.6 million eligible voters. According to Kuwait News Agency, the Commission confirmed that all preparations for the elections were completed, ensuring a smooth process for the 2,683,618 eligible voters. President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, expressed hopes for the formation of a unified government to enhance citizens' living conditions. Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski emphasized the importance of voting as a fundamental aspect of democracy and encouraged robust voter participation. The election process in Kurdistan is under the watchful eyes of a diverse group of monitors. According to IHEC, oversight is being conducted by 16 consulates, 15 organizations, and 22 international media inst itutions, along with 9,610 local organizations and observers, and 43,139 representatives from political parties. Special voting sessions held on Friday for security forces and hospital patients saw a participation rate of 97 percent, demonstrating strong engagement. The Kurdistan Region's first parliamentary elections occurred in May 1992, signifying the establishment of its legislative authority. During that inaugural election, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) dominated by securing all seats, benefiting from the electoral threshold. The last parliamentary elections in 2018 saw the KDP obtaining 38 seats, followed by the Change Movement with 24 seats, and the PUK securing 18 seats.