Preparations continue for November 1 elections, party numbers assigned

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – In preparation for November 1 elections, the Kurdistan election body assigned, via lottery, numbers to the registered political entities.

The Kurdistan Region will hold both parliamentary and presidential elections on the same day.

The Independent High Elections and Referendum Commission (IHERC) warned that campaigning cannot begin until the candidate lists are approved by its office.

 

On ballot papers, political parties are identified by the numbers assigned today.

The Kurdistan Region last held parliamentary elections in 2013. The presidential election has not been held since 2009.

Asked about the possibility of delaying the presidential and parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani told Rudaw in an interview this week, “As of now, the political parties have not agreed on that. We expect some meetings will be held, so decisions will be made on it later.”

After the 2013 vote, five parties formed a coalition government led by the KDP with 38 seats, Gorran with 24 seats, PUK with 18 seats, KIU with 10 seats, and Komal with 6 seats.

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani has already said that he will not run for the presidency. He also ruled out any of his family members making a bid for the top post. No candidates for the presidential election have so far been confirmed by the electoral commission.