Imad Jamil, head of media for Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), told Rudaw that of a total 314 registered parties, 70 have submitted their intention to participate in the elections, scheduled for November 11.
The registration process began on April 15 and is set to run through May 23, according to IHEC.
“Those other parties that have not declared their intention to participate in the elections to the commission can confirm this intention when submitting their candidates, and can participate in the elections,” Jamil said.
The vote will be held without any amendments to the Sainte-Lague election method, which is expected to disadvantage smaller parties and independents, instead favoring better-funded, more established parties.
Hassan Hadi, a member of IHEC’s media team, told Rudaw that the commission has invalidated more than one million voting cards.
Approximately 29 million citizens in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region will have the right to vote by the end of the year, but only those with biometric voting cards will be able to cast a ballot.
