Iraq Enters Election Silence Period Ahead of Critical Parliamentary Vote

Kokcha News Agency – As of 7 a.m. Saturday, Iraq entered a legally enforced election silence period, banning all political campaigning until polls close on Tuesday. This comes after a month of intense and costly electoral promotions by competing parties and coalitions.

The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) of Iraq confirmed that 7,744 candidates are competing for 329 parliamentary seats, though 848 candidates have been disqualified from the race. Strict monitoring is in place to prevent violations during the silence period, with media and online platforms under close surveillance.

Special voting for security forces, military personnel, prisoners, hospital patients, and displaced persons in camps will take place on Sunday across 809 polling centers, involving over 1.3 million voters. General voting will be held on Tuesday, with more than 21 million Iraqis—out of nearly 29 million eligible voters—having updated their registration documents.

International observers from the UN, Arab League, European Union, and several embassies have been accredited to monitor the electoral process. Over 1,500 media outlets are also registered to cover the elections.

Unlike previous elections, which were held under strict security measures and curfews, this round features more flexible security protocols.

These elections are particularly significant as the new parliament will not only legislate but also elect Iraq’s next president and task the largest parliamentary bloc with forming a government—a process that will define the country’s political direction amid ongoing economic and security challenges.