US Ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski said her country’s volunteers will be present at the polling centers across the Kurdistan Region to observe the general elections, reiterating Washington’s support for Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

“Volunteers from U.S. Mission Iraq will be at polling sites across the IKR [Iraqi Kurdistan Region] and will be joined by international election experts and other diplomatic missions to observe today’s election,” said Romanowski in a post on X.

In an earlier video message, Romanowski stressed the importance “for all eligible voters in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region to participate in the parliamentary elections and make their voices heard.”

The US diplomat called on political parties and actors to refrain from violence and intimidation and ensure a fair election.

“We also urge all political parties and actors to ensure the election is free and fair without violence or intimidation and that the election reflects the will of people,” Romanowski added, reiterating Washington’s commitment to supporting Iraq and the Kurdistan Region’s “security, stability, and sovereignty.” Continue Reading

Jumana al-Ghalai, spokesperson for Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), assured voters that there are no technical issues and that their vote is preserved.

"To my knowledge, there are no technical issues. Despite that, there are back-up [voting] machines. The technical coordinators and specialized employees are present at every polling station," she told Rudaw in Baghdad. "The voter can rest assured their vote is preserved."

She explained that if there are complaints, voters and representatives of political parties at the polling centers have the right to submit formal complaints at complaint boxes available at the centers.

Election monitors in the Kurdistan Region reported during Friday’s early voting that they had documented dozens of violations, including campaigning near polling centers and voters bringing mobile phones into booths.
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The parliamentary elections in the Kurdistan Region is a proof of a “bright future” for the Region and Iraq, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and head of UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) Mohamed al-Hassan said.

“This is an historic day in Kurdistan. We congratulate the people of this beloved region on this democratic celebration. We hope that everything continues as we have witnessed, safe and peaceful,” Hassan told reporters during a visit to a polling center in Erbil.

“The UN is supportive of Iraq and supportive of Kurdistan. The people of Kurdistan deserve all the best, and deserve security and peace. What is happening today is proof of the bright future for Kurdistan and Iraq,” he added.

The UN has 25 observers across the Kurdistan Region to monitor the elections.
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Shalaw Kosrat Rasul, the head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) list in Erbil, called on the residents of the Kurdistan Region’s capital city to head toward the polling centers to initiate “a fundamental change.”

“I hope that the people of the beloved city of Erbil participate in making a fundamental change in ruling; with the effort and support of the people of Erbil, we will reclaim Erbil,” Rasul told journalists after casting his ballot in Erbil.
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Ali Hama Saleh, the head of the National Stance Movement (Halwest), called for high participation in the Kurdistan Region’s parliamentary elections, noting that a high voter turnout means a decline in the votes of the ruling parties.

“I hope that people participate in the vote, and those who are dissatisfied seize this opportunity,” Saleh told Rudaw’s Delnia Rahman in Erbil.

Saleh asked people not to be intimidated by pressures and called on voters to vote before midday to avoid problems in the process.

“I believe that there will be a huge turnout, and the ruling parties will experience a decline [in votes]. This might be a bit difficult phase, but it is not impossible,” he said.

Halwest is a newly established party led by Saleh, a popular and outspoken former leader of the Gorran faction in the Kurdistan parliament. 

Halwest’s campaign strategy has largely focused on tackling corruption and economic reforms, including issues related to smuggling at border crossings between Sulaimani and Iran, an issue Saleh has been vocal about for several years. Continue Reading

Dilshad Shahab, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Region Presidency, said that the regional parliamentary vote this time around was long overdue and the absence of a parliament left the Region in an uncomfortable situation.

“This election is not a normal one. It is not a routine election that just comes and goes. There was never an election that was talked about this much, but unfortunately due to the differences this election was delayed and we were put in a very uncomfortable position,” Shahab told Rudaw after casting his ballot. 

The Kurdistan Region suffered a lot of losses especially after the parliament was declared defunct, according to Shahab. 

He said that all these problems put the leaders of the Kurdistan Region in an uncomfortable position, and many times President Nechirvan Barzani did not want to receive guests or make trips abroad due to the unstable situation in the Region. 
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Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid on Sunday cast his vote in Baghdad for the Kurdistan Region's parliament election.

“The election process in the Kurdistan Region started yesterday, and today the general vote is underway. Firstly, I want to congratulate the Kurdistan Region on this election process and hope they can form a parliament that serves the people of the Kurdistan Region," Rashid said after voting. 

“We are happy and hopeful because the process is being carried out in a good way,” he added.

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Judge Omar Ahmed, the head of the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) said that the voting process is going well, and he hopes that the election results are announced less than 24 hours after the polls close.

“After the polls close, the results will be sent to the servers of the [IHEC’s] national office in Baghdad. And the results need to be announced within 24 hours, and we hope we can announce them earlier,” Ahmed told journalists in Erbil.

Ahmed said early figures on voter turnout are expected to be obtained at noon.

“The process is going very well, but right now we do not know the turnout rate. We will get a report at noon, and we will be notified about the turnout,” he said.
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The Kurdistan Democratic Party’s (KDP) doors are open to other political parties for negotiations on forming the government after the conclusion of the Kurdistan Region’s parliamentary election, its spokesperson said after casting his ballot.

“If you paid attention to the speech of President Masoud Barzani on the 15th of this month, he said very clearly … that as the KDP our doors are open and we will extend a hand of friendship to all fronts to run this nation the right way,” KDP spokesperson Mahmoud Mohammed told reporters. 

Mohammed attached particular importance to the election, stressing it comes at a “sensitive time when this region is full of sensitive events and it is expected that these events increase.” 

He refused to speak about the number of seats the KDP is expected to win, but said that since 1992 the Kurdistan Region’s citizens have been clear on their preferred party. 
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Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) spokesperson Saadi Ahmed Pira labeled the Kurdistan Region’s elections as an “important process” and stressed the importance of cooperating for a satisfactory election.

Pira said that the post-election period “will not be an easy phase. This country is for all, and everyone needs to feel responsible and face the challenges."

The PUK spokesperson said that expects their votes to increase in the “sensitive” elections. The party secured 21 seats in the 2018 general vote.

Pira himself could not cast his ballot in Erbil as his fingerprint could not be read by the voting machines. Continue Reading

Kurdistan Justice Group (Komal) leader Ali Bapir called on the people of the Kurdistan Region to cast their vote in the parliamentary elections and called on parties to refrain from pressuring people to vote during the process.

“I call on everyone, the people of Kurdistan, to go to the ballots boxes, vote and express their opinion, to vote for the person they are convinced about,” Bapir told journalists in Erbil, adding that the process is conducted in a calm manner.

“I noticed that there were invalid votes during the early voting. An invalid vote means that a political party pressured an individual to vote for a party it does not believe in,” Bapir said.

The Komal leader hoped parties would refrain from pressuring people in the general vote.

“We believe that pressuring people, whether in Halabja or in Duhok, is an illegitimate and uncivilized action. I hope that our people and the political leadership leave this phase behind,” he said.

 

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Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani cast his ballot in Erbil province’s Pirmam.

In their final campaign rally on Tuesday, KDP leader Masoud Barzani stressed that the party “has always been number one” and called on supporters to turn up at the ballot box to ensure another victory. The KDP is fielding 190 candidates across all provinces - more than any other party.
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New Generation Movement leader Shaswar Abdulwahid on Sunday voted in the Kurdistan Region's parliamentary election, urging citizens to "quickly come vote" to address voting problems before it is too late.

“Today is a very different day, and hopefully in the evening after 6 pm the Kurdistan Region’s people are able to completely change the future for themselves and their children," Abdulwahid told reporters after voting. 

Abdulwahid called Sunday the "best opportunity" for those who are dissatisfied with the status quo to enact change.  Continue Reading

Lahur Talabany, leader of the newly-founded People’s Front (Baray Gal), cast his vote in Sulaimani on Sunday for the Kurdistan Region’s parliamentary election. 

“Today is a historic day,” Talabany told reporters after voting. 

He described the ballot boxes as a “flower vase,” of votes for different political parties and expressed hope for the process to be carried out in a “democratic way.” 

“We will not say whether we will become a part of the government or the opposition. We will leave this matter until after the election,” said Talabany, also the former co-chair of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). 
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Qubad Talabani, deputy prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), cast his vote in Sulaimai. While calling on the people to vote, Talabani said that his party, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), wants to reorganize the Kurdistan Region.

“I call on everyone to go and cast his vote for the party they trust and vote for the party that does what they say,” Talabani said.

“The PUK has been reorganizing for the past three years, it has been reorganizing its ranks for three years, and now for four years, PUK will reorganize the Kurdistan Region,” he added. Continue Reading

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani cast his vote in Erbil's Pirmam on Sunday for the parliamentary election.

"I hope that every citizen who has the right to vote participates in the voting process today to determine their own government," Barzani said after casting his ballot. 

"I hope that today's elections go peacefully ... and that the Kurdistan Region's citizens punish those who play with people's rights," he added. 

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Salahaddin Mohammed Bahaddin, the leader of the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU), cast his vote in the Kurdistan Region’s parliamentary elections in Sulaimani, saying that the region and the people of Kurdistan needed this election.

“We have to thank God first for arriving on this day... this will be an important day for a fateful issue. Our people need this; even ruling and the authority need renewal and the establishment of a new atmosphere,” Bahaddin said.

“I hope that our people go to the ballot boxes mindfully and express their opinion,” he added.

Bahaddin said the next step following the vote will be “taking rapid steps to establish the parliament and the government,” adding that the results of the vote will dictate the party’s stance following the elections. Continue Reading

Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Bafel Talabani voted in party's stronghold of Sulaimani on Sunday morning. 

Speaking to reporters after casting his ballot, Talabani called on the Kurdistan Region's citizens to "hurry up, wake up, and go vote." 

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Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani cast his vote on Sunday morning in the Kurdistan Region's parliamentary election. 

"I hope that the Kurdistan Region's citizens exercise their rights to pick their own candidates and send them to parliament," President Barzani said after voting. "I hope that the process today is peaceful."

Barzani thanked Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, Iraqi judicial authorities, and the UN mission for Iraq (UNAMI) for the "success of the [election] process."

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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Polls in the Kurdistan Region opened on Sunday morning for its long-awaited parliamentary elections, two years after its originally scheduled date and with the federal commission supervising the vote.

A total of 1,191 candidates are contesting the 100-seat legislature, downsized from 111 seats following a major Iraqi federal court ruling in February. 

READ MORE: Who's who in Kurdistan's parliamentary elections?

It is also the first election to divide the region into four constituencies, Sulaimani, Erbil, Duhok, and Halabja. There are 38 seats up for grabs in Sulaimani province, 34 in Erbil, 25 in Duhok, and three in Halabja.  

About 2.9 million residents across the Kurdistan Region are registered to vote, and over 1,200 polling stations are open. 

The polls opened at 7:00 am and will close at 6:00 pm. 

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