General elections: Iraq voter turnout hits 23% by midday

Shafaq News – Baghdad

The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) reported that voter turnout across Iraq reached 22.9% by midday Tuesday, as polling continued for the country’s sixth parliamentary elections since 2005.

According to IHEC figures obtained by Shafaq News, Saladin recorded the highest participation rate at 31.57%, while Maysan registered the lowest at 16.63%.

Participation rates varied among the provinces:

-Saladin: 31.57%

-Nineveh: 30.67%

-Al-Anbar: 30.51%

-Kirkuk: 28.85%

-Erbil: 28.93%

-Duhok: 27.36%

-Al-Sulaymaniyah (including Halabja): 24.88%

-Diyala: 24.29%

-Baghdad / Karkh: 23.04%

-Baghdad / Rusafa: 18.2%

-Babil: 22.02%

-Wasit: 20.02%

-Karbala: 19.53%

-Al-Qadisiya (Al-Diwaniya): 19.98%

-Najaf: 18.16%

-Muthanna: 21.54%

-Dhi Qar: 21.90%

-Maysan: 16.63%

-Basra: 22.21%

The IHEC confirmed that polling centers opened at 7:00 a.m. and will close at 6:00 p.m. Baghdad time, with no planned extension of voting hours.