Iraq Votes Under Tight Security as Sadrist Boycott Shapes Election
Iraq Votes Under Tight Security as Sadrist Boycott Shapes Election
Iraq's parliamentary polls opened with tight security and a major boycott by the Sadrist Movement, as 8,703 stations prepared ballots and early voting began.
Iraqis headed to the polls on Tuesday to vote in a parliamentary election marked by tight security and a boycott by a major political bloc. A total of 8,703 polling stations were open across the country for the general election, and security forces were deployed to keep the process orderly. Members of the security forces and displaced people living in camps cast their ballots in early voting on Sunday.
Turnout in the early hours appeared modest, with initial reports indicating a slow start at several stations. In total, about 21.4 million out of 32 million eligible voters had updated their information and obtained voter cards ahead of polling, a decrease from the 24 million registered for the 2021 election. The vote comes against a backdrop of regional shifts over the past two years, including conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon and ongoing tensions around Iran’s influence on Iraqi politics.
Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani, who is seeking a second term, arrived at a Baghdad polling station to cast his vote, stressing that the election demonstrates the peaceful transfer of power and the public’s commitment to democracy.
A defining feature of this election is the boycott by Muqtada al-Sadr’s Sadrist Movement, which once led the field in 2021 but withdrew after failed negotiations over forming a government. The boycott could reshape the political map as voters rethink alliances and party strength.
Initial results were expected on Wednesday, offering a first snapshot of how the map is shifting amid security concerns, economic issues, and regional pressures. The election is widely seen as a test of Iraq’s democratic process amid ongoing volatility in the region.
Cover image source: As Iraqis Vote for a Parliament, U.S. Presses to Rid Country of Iran’s Influence 🔗
