SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region – Special voting for the Kurdistan parliamentary elections began on Friday, with nearly 216,000 eligible voters from the Peshmerga, security forces, and inmates casting their ballots.
The polling stations opened at 7 a.m. and will close at 6 p.m. local time. The special voting process takes place just two days before the general election, scheduled for Sunday.
While the voting process has proceeded without major disruptions, concerns have been raised over alleged violations in Halabja province. Several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) monitoring the election claim that procedures are not fully adhering to the guidelines set by the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC).
Arsalan Abid, a representative from the Shams Network, an election-monitoring NGO, told Zoom News that they intend to file a formal complaint regarding the alleged irregularities and will submit a report to the IHEC.
Zoom News obtained exclusive footage showing two party monitors being expelled from a polling station in Halabja after protesting the use of smartphones to document filled-out ballots. According to reports, the monitors alleged that voters were being asked to confirm their votes for the ruling Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) by photographing their ballots.
Footage captures the expulsion of two party monitors from a Halabja polling station after protesting the use of smartphones to document their filled-out ballots, which was reportedly being done to confirm that they had voted for the ruling party, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan… pic.twitter.com/xBwsxXUSyN
— Zoom News (@zoomnewskrd) October 18, 2024
Jabar Namdar, a representative of the People’s Front list in Halabja, voiced concerns over the role of security forces in the electoral process, suggesting that polling stations appeared to be under the control of security personnel rather than IHEC officials.
The general election will take place on Sunday, with voters across the Kurdistan Region set to elect a new parliament.
Judge Omar Ahmed, Chairman of the IHEC, told reporters that the process is going well and emphasized that bringing smartphones into polling stations is strictly prohibited.
Shams Network monitors have recorded 78 violations during special voting in the Kurdistan Region’s parliamentary elections until 12 p.m., according to Hogr Chato, head of the election monitoring organization, in an interview with Zoom News.
Voter turnout in the Kurdistan Region’s parliamentary elections reached 70% during special voting as of 12 p.m., the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) has announced.
Last updated at 1:15 p.m.