Iraq launched early voting ahead of Tuesday’s parliamentary election. Security forces and displaced citizens cast their ballots on Sunday as the nation prepared for a pivotal vote that could determine Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s future. Around 1.3 million members of the army and security forces joined 26,000 displaced voters in this early phase. A total of 7,744 candidates are competing, most aligned with sectarian parties.
The election takes place under the shadow of regional tensions, with Iraq balancing its ties between Tehran and Washington while watching for potential conflict between Israel and Iran. The results will decide whether al-Sudani secures another term and shape Iraq’s political direction amid mounting uncertainty.
Displaced Yazidis Cast Their Votes in Northern Camps
In the semi-autonomous Kurdish region near Dohuk, displaced Yazidis participated in early voting. Many fled their homes over a decade ago when the Islamic State group stormed Iraq’s Sinjar district in Nineveh province. IS militants killed and enslaved thousands, labeling Yazidis as heretics.
Although the group’s defeat ended its control, most Yazidis remain in camps due to political divisions and broken infrastructure. Roads, homes, and utilities in Sinjar still lie in ruins, while rival armed groups divide the territory. Some Yazidis have returned, but many doubt they can rebuild their lives there.
Edris Zozani, a displaced voter, supported the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP). “Independent Yazidi candidates can’t represent us effectively,” he said. “Strong parties like the KDP can better defend our community’s interests in parliament.”
Security Forces and Militias Line Up at the Polls
In Baghdad, Iraqi soldiers, police, and members of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) joined the early voting. The PMF, a coalition of mostly Shiite militias backed by Iran, fought the Islamic State and formally joined Iraq’s military in 2016. Despite this, it still operates with notable independence.
The next parliament must decide the PMF’s future amid ongoing disputes with Washington over the group’s influence. Lawmakers have debated a bill to formally bind the PMF to the armed forces, a move the U.S. opposes.
“I voted for the list that protects the PMF,” one fighter said anonymously after voting in Baghdad. Several militias within the PMF fielded their own political parties, seeking to strengthen their role in Iraq’s power structure through the ballot box.
