Countdown to Kurdistan Region elections: IHEC urges campaigns free of violence and hatred
Shafaq News/ On Thursday, Iraq'sIndependent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) announced the completion of mosttimelines for the sixth session of the Kurdistan Region Parliament elections.
The IHEC stated, “As the countdownbegins to the polling day scheduled for 20/10/2024, we call upon the politicalparties, alliances, and candidates participating in the electoral process tosupport our work and contribute to the success of the elections by adhering tothe electoral code of conduct and the regulations of the electoral campaignsystem as stipulated in Electoral Campaign Law No. (2) of 2023.”
The Commission expressed its hopethat the electoral campaigns “would not include ideas that incite violence andhatred or insult other candidates and competing parties,” emphasizing theimportance of following legal channels for filing complaints and appeals, andavoiding negative actions and reactions among competitors.
Furthermore, the IHEC stated that itwould review the submitted complaints and appeals under its establishedregulations and mechanisms, ensuring “complete neutrality and independence.”
On this occasion, it urged allpartners in the electoral process—including voters, alliances, politicalparties, candidates, observers, journalists, and others concerned withelectoral affairs—to contribute to the IHEC's efforts aimed at organizing and conductingfree, fair, and transparent elections that earn everyone’s trust.
It also reaffirmed its commitment to“working professionally and impartially,” ensuring that it remains neutraltoward all parties, with its primary goal being “to achieve electoral justiceand protect the voters' voices.”
“We hope that the outcomes of theseelections will be an additional step toward a secure and prosperous future forthe people of the Kurdistan Region.”
Notably, the October vote isexpected to elect 100 new lawmakers representing the governorates of IraqiKurdistan: Erbil (34 seats, including one for Christians and one for Turkmen),Halabja (three seats), Al-Sulaymaniyah (38 seats, including one for Christiansand one for Turkmen), and Duhok (25 seats, including one for Christians).
According to the ElectoralCommission, a total of 1,190 candidates are running in the upcoming elections.These candidates are distributed across two coalitions, 13 parties, and include85 independents, alongside 39 candidates representing minority groups, forminga total of 139 electoral lists.
The overall number of eligiblevoters amounts to 2,899,878. Of this total, 2,683,618 are registered forgeneral voting, while 215,960 are listed for special voting.
