Iraqis vote in parliamentary elections after 82.5% special turnout amid regional scrutiny

Iraqis voted on Tuesday in parliamentary elections that could decide whether Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani retains power or faces a reshaped coalition in a parliament many citizens have lost faith in.

More than 21 million voters are eligible to choose from 7,743 candidates contesting 329 seats in Iraq’s sixth parliamentary vote since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. Sudani’s bloc, backed by the Shi’ite Coordination Framework, is expected to secure the most seats, though not an outright majority. That could mean months of bargaining among Shi’ite, Sunni, and Kurdish groups before a new government is formed.

The vote follows special polling on November 9 for security forces and displaced persons, which recorded 82.5% turnout, with the Kurdistan Region exceeding 97% in Duhok and Erbil. Preliminary figures show the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) ahead in Kurdish areas, while tension persists in disputed territories such as Kirkuk and Nineveh, watched closely by both Iran and the United States.

A weary public, familiar faces

Despite the large field of candidates, many Iraqis doubt the election will deliver reform. Public frustration runs deep over corruption, unemployment, weak services, and the slow pace of reconstruction. The muhasasa power-sharing system dividing top posts among Shi’ites, Sunnis, and Kurds has ensured representation but entrenched patronage and weakened governance.

Turnout is expected to fall below the record low of 41% in 2021, reflecting voter apathy and the boycott by populist cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, once the country’s most influential political figure.

Continuity or change?

Analysts say Sudani is likely to stay in office if his allies maintain control. However, a low mandate or disputes among Shi’ite blocs could weaken his position and spark prolonged negotiations.

For many voters, this election is less about who wins and more about whether Iraq’s entrenched political order can finally deliver real change.