Iraq holds 6th parliamentary elections, president urges participation
2 Min Read
Iraq opens polling stations for its sixth parliamentary elections as President Abdul Latif Rashid calls for high voter turnout to improve the political system.
-
Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid attends the 34th Arab League summit, in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Thaier Al-Sudani/Pool via AP)
Iraqis headed to the polls on Tuesday for the country’s sixth parliamentary elections, as President Abdul Latif Rashid called on citizens to engage actively in the democratic process to strengthen the political system and address past shortcomings.
In a public statement, Rashid emphasized that broad participation in the Iraq parliamentary elections 2025 is essential to correcting mistakes and driving national reform, urging eligible voters across the country to make their voices heard.
"The only way to correct mistakes and address shortcomings is through participation in the parliamentary elections," Rashid said, encouraging Iraqis to help shape the future of their political system through the ballot box.
His remarks come amid a politically tense regional environment and internal efforts to stabilize governance structures.
Over 21 million Iraqis eligible to vote
More than 21 million Iraqis are eligible to vote in this year’s elections, which will determine the makeup of the new 329-member parliament.
Polling stations opened their doors at 7:00 AM local time (4:00 AM GMT) and will remain open until 6:00 PM (3:00 PM GMT). Security has been heightened across the country to ensure a safe voting environment.
The vote takes place against a backdrop of heightened regional instability and continued domestic challenges. Authorities are hoping that a high voter turnout would signal renewed public trust in the political process.
According to election officials, preliminary results are expected within 24 hours of polls closing. Final certified results will follow after the votes are officially counted and verified.
On a related note, the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) released the final closing report for the special voting process on the upcoming 2025 parliamentary elections on Sunday.
A correspondent for the Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported that, following the conclusion of the special voting process, "the Independent High Electoral Commission IHEC closed polling stations across the country," at 6:00 pm local time.
The Independent High Electoral Commission announced the voter turnout for the special voting process, confirming it had reached 82.42%.
