Iraq
Biometric voting cards at a polling station during Iraq's local elections in December 2023. Photo: Bilind T. Abdullah/Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A record number of Iraqis have obtained biometric voting cards as registration ends ahead of parliamentary elections later this year.
“More than two million people have obtained biometric voting cards, which is the first time since 2005 that such a number has been registered,” Imad Jamil, head of media at the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), told Rudaw on Friday.
According to IHEC figures shared with Rudaw, 2,155,097 people registered for biometric voting cards, raising the total number of eligible voters across Iraq to 21,400,089. In comparison, only 1.4 million voters updated their information during the 2021 parliamentary elections, despite a six-month registration period.
The registration portal officially closes at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, following multiple extensions since its launch on March 25.
Baghdad province recorded the highest number of registrations nationwide with 475,318, followed by Nineveh with 289,556.
In the Kurdistan Region, Erbil led with 153,032, followed by Sulaimani with 115,454, and Duhok with 75,781.
Parliamentary elections are scheduled for November 11, with 29 million people eligible to vote. However, only those possessing biometric voting cards will be allowed to cast their ballots, according to IHEC.
Hastyar Qadir contributed to this report.
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