Iraqis head to the polls for local elections after 10 years

Iraqis are heading to the polls for local elections for the first time since 2013. The local elections, held in a country with approximately 17 million registered voters, do not include cities under the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). In the elections where a total of 5,904 candidates are competing for 275 seats, only 70 of the seats have been reserved for female candidates.

While extensive security measures have been taken across the country due to the elections, a curfew has been imposed on motorcycles and transport vehicles. Voting, which began at 07:00 local time, will end at 18:00.

As part of the special voting held on Saturday, security forces and internally displaced persons in the country had already cast their ballots. Local elections in the KRG region are expected to be held next year.

BOYCOTT CALL HAD BEEN MADE

Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr of the Sadrist Movement, who withdrew from politics last year, had called on his supporters to boycott the provincial elections. In a written statement, Sadr had stated, "A widespread boycott reduces the legitimacy of the elections."

Local elections in Iraq were last held in 2013, and subsequent elections were postponed due to attacks by the terrorist organization ISIS.

News Source: İHA