Baghdad: As part of final preparations, Iraq entered an official “electoral silence” period this morning, restricting campaigning activities two days ahead of the vote. Polling stations will open at 7:00 AM and close at 6:00 PM local time on election day, according to the High Electoral Commission of Iraq.

The special voting process begins on Sunday for 1,313,859 members of the country’s security and military institutions, alongside 26,538 displaced voters participating in a designated voting process. The general vote on Monday will see 20,063,773 Iraqis heading to the polls across more than 9,500 polling stations nationwide.

Following several rounds of audit and disqualification, the Commission confirmed that 848 candidates have been excluded from the race, leaving 7,744 candidates competing for parliamentary seats. Spokesperson Jumana Al-Ghalai emphasized that all reviews were conducted in line with legal procedures and Commission guidelines.

To ensure transparency, more than 300 international observers and over a thousand licensed local organizations will monitor the elections. Additionally, representatives of political parties, known as “party agents”, will independently oversee the process to maintain fairness and accountability.

Preliminary results are expected within 24 hours after the polls close, while final results will be announced once all audits, technical checks, and appeals are reviewed by the Independent High Electoral Commission and judicial authorities.