18-12-2023
18:48
Election polls close
Iraqi provincial election polls closed at 6pm local time. Continue reading Rudaw English for updates on the results.
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17:00
One hour before the polls close
The polling stations for Iraq’s provincial council elections are set to close at 6PM. Here are a few key takeaways until now:
• The voter turnout until noon was at 17 percent.
• The highest turnout was in Kirkuk with 32 percent of eligible voters casting a ballot despite technical issues being reported in several stations.
• Iraq’s electoral commission told Rudaw that they expect the turnout to reach 60 percent by the end of the day.
• The commission has stated that it will announce the results of the vote after 24 hours from the closure of the polls.
15:00
Voter turnout 17 percent as of noon, says electoral commission
Iraqi High Election Commission staff await voters in the election hall for the first provincial council elections in a decade, at a polling station in Sadr City in the capital Baghdad, on December 18, 2023. Photo: Ahmad al-Rubaye/AFP
The voter turnout in Iraq’s provincial council elections until 12:00 pm was at 17 percent, the electoral commission announced on Monday afternoon.
The commission added that there will be no extension of the voting hours and polls will close at 6:00 pm as scheduled, calling on citizens to head to the polls to achieve a higher turnout. Continue Reading
The commission added that there will be no extension of the voting hours and polls will close at 6:00 pm as scheduled, calling on citizens to head to the polls to achieve a higher turnout. Continue Reading
13:34
Over 1,800 international observers present in polling stations: IHEC
Iraq’s electoral commission on Monday said there are over 1,800 international observers present across 134 polling stations to monitor the vote in the country.
“The electoral process is proceeding very smoothly in terms of equipment, procedures, and the installation of cameras inside polling stations,” said Emad Jamil, head of the media team at Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC).
Alongside the international observers, some 495 thousand observers from entities and political parties and 320 thousand local observers are present.
“No logistical or administrative breaches have been recorded so far,” Jamil said. Continue Reading
“The electoral process is proceeding very smoothly in terms of equipment, procedures, and the installation of cameras inside polling stations,” said Emad Jamil, head of the media team at Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC).
Alongside the international observers, some 495 thousand observers from entities and political parties and 320 thousand local observers are present.
“No logistical or administrative breaches have been recorded so far,” Jamil said. Continue Reading
13:28
Kirkuk votes in Iraq's provincial election
Photo: Bilind T. Abdullah/Rudaw
As millions of Iraqis across the country make their way towards the polling stations on Monday to cast their ballots in the first provincial election in a decade, few will be eagerly anticipating the outcome as Kirkuk’s multi-ethnic population who may witness a complete shift in power with Kurdish parties seeking to regain control for the first time since 2017, despite losing the trust of many of the city’s Kurdish voters since.
READ MORE: What do Iraq’s provincial elections mean for Kirkuk’s Kurds?
Continue Reading13:22
Power outage suspends vote in Shingal station for 45 minutes
A voting station in Shingal. Photo: Rudaw
Voting in Iraq’s provincial council elections in one of the polling stations the town of Shingal was suspended for 45 minutes earlier in the morning due to a power outage, according to Rudaw’s reporter on the ground.
“There was no electricity for 45 minutes in this polling station and people were unable to vote as a result,” Rudaw’s Adla Abubakir said from Shingal.
Power was eventually restored and the voting process is carrying on as planned, Abubakir later said. Continue Reading
“There was no electricity for 45 minutes in this polling station and people were unable to vote as a result,” Rudaw’s Adla Abubakir said from Shingal.
Power was eventually restored and the voting process is carrying on as planned, Abubakir later said. Continue Reading
13:09
Maliki hails ‘dream’ of provincial elections coming true
Nouri al-Maliki after casting his vote in Baghdad. Photo: Iraqi state media
Nouri al-Maliki, a top Iraqi Shiite leader hailed Monday’s provincial council elections in Iraq as a "dream" which came true after a decade.
Maliki thanked Iraqis for being patient over the past ten years and for helping their local authorities in the absence of their provinces' provincial council.
"Thanks to the entire people of Iraq for helping fulfill this huge dream - the provincial council elections, and for helping solve all the shortcomings that had gripped our provinces following the abolition of the previous provincial councils," Maliki told Rudaw after casting his ballot in Baghdad on Monday morning.
"They helped the governors continue their service projects and run their duties," he added.
The provincial councils were created by the 2005 Iraqi constitution following the fall of dictator Saddam Hussein’s regime. They hold significant power, including setting budgets for several key sectors such as education and health, but are accused of being rife with corruption.
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Maliki thanked Iraqis for being patient over the past ten years and for helping their local authorities in the absence of their provinces' provincial council.
"Thanks to the entire people of Iraq for helping fulfill this huge dream - the provincial council elections, and for helping solve all the shortcomings that had gripped our provinces following the abolition of the previous provincial councils," Maliki told Rudaw after casting his ballot in Baghdad on Monday morning.
"They helped the governors continue their service projects and run their duties," he added.
The provincial councils were created by the 2005 Iraqi constitution following the fall of dictator Saddam Hussein’s regime. They hold significant power, including setting budgets for several key sectors such as education and health, but are accused of being rife with corruption.
12:52
Iraqi commission says will announce provincial elections results in 24 hours
Results of the Iraqi provincial council elections taking place across fifteen provinces will be announced within 24 hours with polls set to close at 6:00 pm, Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission said on Monday.
The commission reported “no issues” with the voting machines and said that existing problem have been resolved, while the votes will begin to be separated after polls close.
Initial issues occurred during early voting on Saturday for security forces and displaced persons, as complaints were filed about voting machines not taking fingerprints and final reports not sent to the commission from some voting centers.
The issues have been resolved, according to IHEC. Continue Reading
The commission reported “no issues” with the voting machines and said that existing problem have been resolved, while the votes will begin to be separated after polls close.
Initial issues occurred during early voting on Saturday for security forces and displaced persons, as complaints were filed about voting machines not taking fingerprints and final reports not sent to the commission from some voting centers.
The issues have been resolved, according to IHEC. Continue Reading
12:50
Provincial elections ‘decisive’ for Kurds: Qubad Talabani
Provincial elections ‘decisive’ for Kurds: Qubad Talabani
The Iraqi provincial council elections are “decisive” for the return of Kurds to power in the disputed areas, Kurdistan Region Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani told Rudaw on Monday.
“People have realized the decisiveness and sensitivity of the Iraqi provincial council elections and I see a high sense of nationalism in the citizens,” said Talabani of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).
“We will pass this stage and power will return to the Kurds,” he said, adding that enthusiasm among Kurdish voters is high enough that it did not require his words of encouragement to vote. Continue Reading
“People have realized the decisiveness and sensitivity of the Iraqi provincial council elections and I see a high sense of nationalism in the citizens,” said Talabani of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).
“We will pass this stage and power will return to the Kurds,” he said, adding that enthusiasm among Kurdish voters is high enough that it did not require his words of encouragement to vote. Continue Reading
12:46
Iraqi PM Sudani casts his ballot
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani votes in Baghdad. Photo: Iraqi state media
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani returned to Baghdad on Sunday evening after a Kuwait trip to pay condolences for the death of late Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmed Al Sabah, and cast his vote in a polling station on Monday morning.
The provincial elections are seen by many as a key test for Sudani's tenure as prime minister as well as an assessment of how well political parties are doing.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani casts his vote in the country's first provincial election in a decade.
— Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) December 18, 2023
📽️: Iraqi state media pic.twitter.com/TzhAEAGhy1
As he cast his vote, Sudani urged citizens to to go out and vote, adding that the elections "represent a pillar of the executive and help the government in the implementing of its polices."
12:38
Iraqis vote in first provincial elections in decade
An Iraqi army soldier poses with his ink-stained finger after voting in the early round for members of the military and security forces in the 2023 Iraqi municipal elections, in Kadhimiya in northern Baghdad on December 16, 2023. Photo: Ahmad al-Rubaye/AFP
Iraqis on Monday headed to the polling stations across the country to vote in the country’s first provincial council elections in a decade, one that is expected to further consolidate power for pro-Iran Shiite factions.
The provincial councils were created by the 2005 Iraqi constitution following the fall of dictator Saddam Hussein’s regime. They hold significant power, including setting budgets for several key sectors such as education and health, but are accused of being rife with corruption.
The vote will take place across 15 Iraqi provinces, excluding the three Kurdistan Region provinces in the north.
The provincial councils were created by the 2005 Iraqi constitution following the fall of dictator Saddam Hussein’s regime. They hold significant power, including setting budgets for several key sectors such as education and health, but are accused of being rife with corruption.
The vote will take place across 15 Iraqi provinces, excluding the three Kurdistan Region provinces in the north.
READ MORE: Iraqi leaders urge high turnout as citizens head to the polls
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