IHEC: Nine million and seventy-seven thousand Iraqis took part in the election

The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) in Iraq announced, as reported by Reuters, that the initial turnout in Iraq’s parliamentary election reached 41%.

The Commission added that nine million and seventy-seven thousand people voted, with 58 complaints registered in the general polls and 16 in the special polls.

As per the preliminary table, the highest participation rate was in Dohuk with 54% recorded.

🔻 اعلان نسبة التصويت لانتخابات مجلس النواب العراقي ٢٠٢١
1- بلغت نسبة التصويت الاولية 41% من مجموع المحطات المستلمة والبالغة (94%)
2- بلغ عدد المصوتين للمحطات المستلمة (9,077,779) . pic.twitter.com/0kA1826ad6
— المفوضية العليا المستقلة للانتخابات (@IHECOfficial) October 11, 2021

In a press conference on Sunday, the IHEC Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, Jalil Adnan, confirmed that the technical flaw that occurred in some electoral centers was handled immediately.

The IHEC pointed out that the United Nations will, as usual, submit its report on the elections within a month.

The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) in Iraq had announced that the polls were closed at 6 PM local time in the early Iraqi legislative elections, amid celebrations in Baghdad's Tahrir Square.

Iraqi leaders speak

In the meantime, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said, "We have completed our duty to conduct fair and transparent elections.”

Iraqi President Barham Salih stressed that the completion of the elections is a huge achievement toward reform, with a huge task awaiting the officials to form powers expressive of the people’s will.

The Iraqi Parliament's Speaker congratulated the Iraqis over their participation and choice, thanking everyone who took part in this achievement.

On his part, the leader of the Sadrist Movement in Iraq, Moqtada al-Sadr, said that the early Iraqi elections were successful, both from a security and professional point of view.

In an exclusive interview for Al Mayadeen, the head of the al-Sanad bloc Ahmed Al-Asadi had hailed the "smooth running" of the Iraqi legislative elections, attributing it to security measures.

He also indicated that “corruption, political blockages, and unemployment mirrored the low turnout”, adding that the political failure over the past years has marked a decline in the participation rate.