Sema
Special voting for Iraq’s parliamentary elections has begun, with over 1.3 million security forces and displaced persons casting their ballots across the country.
Iraq’s sixth parliamentary elections officially began this morning with the start of special voting, as polling stations across the country — including the Kurdistan Region — opened their doors to over 1.3 million security personnel and thousands of displaced persons.
The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) designated 809 centers nationwide for this early vote, allowing those on duty during the main election day to participate. Voting runs from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with ballot boxes closing electronically to ensure transparency.
More than 1.3 million members of the security forces and over 26,000 displaced Iraqis—most living in Duhok—are eligible to vote in this phase.
This process marks a crucial prelude to the general election on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, when millions of Iraqis will cast their ballots to determine the next Council of Representatives.
With thousands of candidates competing nationwide—Baghdad alone fielding over 2,000 contenders for 71 seats—the special vote sets the stage for one of Iraq’s largest and most competitive elections in recent years.