Voting in the Federal Kurdistan Region of Iraq started at 07.00 local time today. Approximately 3 million voters were called to the polls.

Party leaders also went to the polls in the morning and cast their votes.

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Bafil Talabani made a statement to the press after casting his vote and said “We will put an end to this monist rule”, referring to the ruling KDP.

Bafil Talabani also thanked Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Commander Mazlum Abdi for his support and added: “He is a brother of mine.”

Kubad Talabani, Director of Mam Jalal Talabani Secretariat, cast his vote in a school in Sulaymaniyah and Masrour Barzani, the second vice president of KDP, cast his vote in a special voting centre in Hewlêr (Erbil). KDP leader Massoud Barzani and KDP's first Vice President Nechirvan Barzani cast their votes in a special voting centre in Hewlêr.

Iraqi President hopes for 'a successful election process'

Iraqi President Latif Rashid, who cast his vote in Baghdad, said: “I hope that a successful election process will be conducted and I congratulate all my brothers and sisters.”

PUK Spokesperson Sedî Ahmed Pîre emphasised that these elections are very important and sensitive and called on all citizens to go to the polls and cast their votes.

Popular Front to decide after the elections

The President of the Popular Front, Lahor Şêx Cengî, made a statement in Sulaymaniyah and called the people to go to the polls: “I hope all citizens go to the polls and cast their votes because these elections will change the fate of the people and after the elections we will decide whether we will join the government or not.”

Results to be announced within 24 hours after the elections

Hakim Umer, President of the Iraqi High Electoral Commission, stated that there have been no technical problems in the voting process so far and said, “We will announce the results within 24 hours after the elections are over.”

The Secretary General of Yekgirtû Islami (Islamic Unity Party), who voted in Sulaymaniyah, said: “Today is an important day and a turning point. We expect the results to be announced after the end of the elections.”

UN Special Representative for Iraq observing the voting

The UN Special Representative for Iraq and Head of UNAMI, Dr. Mohamed al-Hassan, visited several polling stations in Hewlêr today to watch eligible voters cast their ballots in the Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections.

“Today is an important day for the Kurdistan Region and a good day for democracy. This is the way forward,” he said.

Rojnews: KDP brought many fake voters from Northern Kurdistan and Turkey

On the other hand, RojNews published photos of Turkish passports carried by some voters and reported that the KDP brought many fake voters from Northern Kurdistan and Turkey to South Kurdistan to vote for itself.

It was stated that these ‘fake’ voters were transported especially to the Soran district of Hewlêr.

RojNews reported on 15 October that the KDP had brought 1,500 people from Northern Kurdistan to South Kurdistan to cast their votes for the KDP.