In Iraq, the polling process for the special vote began today, Saturday, at all polling centers designated by the election commission. It was reported that "security forces began to head to polling centers to participate in the local elections as part of the special vote." Interior Minister Abdul Amir Al-Shammari inspected the security forces deployed to secure polling centers in Baghdad. The Independent High Electoral Commission confirmed that over one million Iraqis participated in the special voting process from the security forces and displaced persons, as well as more than one million individuals serving as observers, media personnel, and election staff in the provincial council elections for both special and general votes.
The head of the media team at the commission, Emad Jamil, stated, "The number of security personnel eligible to vote is (1,002,393); the number of polling centers is (565) and the number of polling stations is (2,367). Displaced individuals in displacement camps, numbering (48,260), will also vote alongside the security forces, with (35) polling centers and (120) polling stations." He continued, "More than a million citizens will participate in monitoring the electoral process, managing it, and providing media coverage, which is unprecedented and occurring for the first time in an electoral process."
Platforms affiliated with followers of the Sadrist Movement leader Muqtada Al-Sadr circulated calls on Friday evening for protests in Al-Sadr City, rejecting the elections and emphasizing the boycott.
The Prime Minister of Iraq, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Mohammed Shiya Al-Sudani, sent a message to the security forces on the occasion of the commencement of the special voting. In a statement from the Prime Minister's media office, he said, "Our sons, brothers, and sisters in the Iraqi armed forces, in all their forms and heroic security formations, we affirm our great trust in you and commend your efforts in securing the electoral process at all its stages." He added, "We reiterate the assurance of your freedom in choice as you participate in the special vote in the provincial council elections, and no one has the right to dictate or intervene in determining your choices and directions."
The Ministry of Interior confirmed on Saturday that the security agencies responsible for securing polling centers have not registered any violations during the special voting process so far. Ministry spokesperson Mukdad Miri stated, "Security forces began the voting process in batches as part of the special vote," noting that "we have not recorded any violations in the voting process so far." He indicated that "the special voting process is proceeding smoothly and seamlessly."
