Early voting concludes in Iraqi Kurdistan amid allegations of irregularities

Early voting in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region’s long-postponed parliamentary elections has ended with high turnout figures and a rapid commencement of vote counting.

Preliminary results are expected to be announced within 24 hours, marking a critical milestone after months of political disputes delayed the vote, which was initially set for October 2022.

The election, considered crucial for the semi-autonomous region, comes in the wake of a ruling by Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court in May 2023 that extending the Kurdistan parliament’s term was unconstitutional.

The decision effectively dissolved the Kurdish legislature and called for fresh elections under the supervision of the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC).

On Friday, more than 215,000 members of the security forces were eligible to cast their ballots ahead of the general vote. According to IHEC, turnout by midday was reported at 70%. Voting took place at 165 polling stations, with 153 centres located in the Kurdistan Region and 12 in southern and central Iraq.

Polling stations opened early at 7 am and closed at 6 pm, with voting generally proceeding without major disruptions.

These elections have been postponed multiple times due to political disagreements between rival factions, but in June, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani confirmed 20 October as the new election date.

Allegations of Violations During Early Voting

Despite the overall smooth process, concerns over irregularities have emerged. Observers and political representatives raised alarms about breaches of voting regulations, particularly around the use of mobile phones inside polling stations.

Mohammed Aladdin, a representative of the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU), expressed concerns over the apparent violation of the no-phone policy at some polling sites. "Early in the morning, we noticed voters taking photos of their ballots. Despite raising complaints with IHEC officials, it wasn’t until later that the issue was addressed," Alaaddin told The New Arab at a polling station in Sulaimaniyah.

He noted that while the voting process improved later in the day, these violations cast a shadow over the integrity of the election. Alaaddin also reported that some officers entered polling stations wearing civilian clothes, allegedly pressuring voters.

These concerns were echoed by Omed Mohammed Salih, a representative of the Kurdish Institute for Elections, a local NGO monitoring the process. "Security personnel were seen taking photos of their ballots, likely under pressure from their superiors," Salih reported from Sulaimaniyah.

He claimed that this coercion appeared to be organised, with Kurdish authorities setting up committees outside polling centres to interrogate voters and ensure their loyalty to the ruling parties.

The violations also included instances of voting centres being located too close to party headquarters, raising concerns about undue influence.

IHEC regulations require polling centres to be at least 100 metres away from political offices, but these rules were breached at some locations.

In Sulaimaniyah TNA observed a policing centre that was only a few hundred metres away from the headquarters of one of the ruling parties. TNA also noticed that security forces, including traffic police, were gathering in front of the headquarters of the ruling party. 

Salih reported seeing security forces, including traffic police, gathering near the headquarters of the ruling party.

In response, the head of one voting centre, speaking anonymously to TNA, confirmed that phones were indeed brought into polling stations.

However, the official stressed that those who took photos were forced to delete them before leaving the polling site. IHEC has yet to provide an official response to these claims, and spokesperson Jumana al-Ghalay was unavailable for comment.

International Monitoring and Election Oversight

The election process is under close monitoring by international and local observers. Around 2,000 monitors are present, including representatives from the United Nations, the European Union, and civil organisations.

Their involvement is aimed at ensuring transparency amid widespread concerns over the potential for voter manipulation and fraud, issues that have tainted previous elections.

This year, 1,191 candidates are competing for 100 seats in the Kurdistan parliament, with 38 candidates vying for five reserved seats for minorities.

The elections are highly competitive, with the two dominant parties, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) led by Masoud Barzani, and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) led by Bafel Talabani, competing for control of the region’s government.

As vote counting began immediately after the early voting polls closed, early reports from a voting station indicated that the PUK was leading, and the New Generation opposition party was second.

The main race is expected to be a tight contest between the KDP and the PUK, which have long dominated Kurdish politics. The KDP, led by Barzani, is vying to maintain its lead, while the PUK, under Talabani’s leadership, is seeking to gain a larger share of parliamentary seats and influence.

In addition to the two major parties, several opposition groups, including the New Generation Movement, the Kurdistan Islamic Union, and the Kurdistan Justice Group, are campaigning for a stronger presence in the parliament.

These parties have criticised the political dominance of the KDP and PUK, accusing them of mismanagement and corruption.

This election is the sixth general vote since the Kurdistan Region gained semi-autonomous status in 1991. It has been repeatedly delayed due to political infighting and challenges to electoral processes.

The last regional elections, held in 2018, saw a significant victory for the KDP, which secured 45 seats in the Kurdistan parliament.

The PUK followed with 21 seats, while smaller parties such as the Change Movement, the New Generation Movement, and the Kurdistan Islamic Union gained a modest share of the remaining seats.

However, the 2018 elections were marred by widespread accusations of voter fraud, particularly against the KDP and PUK, and turnout was notably low at 57%.

As early voting concludes and the general vote approaches, the Kurdistan Region awaits the results that will shape its political future.

With allegations of electoral violations already emerging and a high-stakes contest between the KDP and PUK, the region's voters and political leaders will be watching closely to see if this election delivers on its promise of a fair and democratic process.