Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw confirmed that early voting in Erbil is proceeding without disruptions. Members of Iraq’s security forces and internally displaced populations are casting their ballots ahead of the Nov. 11 parliamentary elections.
Khoshnaw said he visited several polling centers with IHEC, the provincial police, and the security committee. All 111,839 special voters across 79 centers and 385 polling stations are voting smoothly. Biometric devices are working correctly, and previous fingerprint recognition issues have been fully resolved.
Halgurd Sheikh Najib, head of Soran Independent Administration, confirmed that voting in his jurisdiction has been “100 percent problem-free.” Seventeen thousand eight hundred forty-two voters across 14 centers and 61 stations are casting ballots. A control room monitors the process and quickly resolves minor issues.
Across Iraq, over 1.3 million security personnel and more than 26,000 displaced citizens are eligible to vote early in 809 polling centers. Voting started at 7:00 a.m. and will continue until 6:00 p.m., with all ballots cast electronically.
Jumana Ghalai, IHEC spokesperson, noted that biometric cards and a three-stage verification system now replace indelible ink. Each voter’s live fingerprint links to their card and the ballot machine, ensuring transparency and preventing fraud.
Officials described the special vote as a successful rehearsal. The general election on Nov. 11 will shape Iraq’s next federal government and test the country’s election integrity nationwide.