Iraq launched early voting on Sunday ahead of Tuesday’s parliamentary election, which features 7,744 candidates. The vote will decide whether Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani earns a second term while Iraq navigates tensions involving Israel, Iran, and the United States. Around 1.3 million security and military personnel, along with 26,000 displaced citizens, cast their ballots before the main election day. Most candidates represent sectarian-aligned political parties seeking to expand their influence in parliament.
This election unfolds under rising regional pressure and concerns about renewed conflict between Israel and Iran. Al-Sudani’s future depends on how effectively he manages Iraq’s fragile balance between Tehran and Washington while maintaining domestic stability.
Displaced Yazidis Cast Their Votes
In the northern Kurdish region, displaced Yazidis participated in early voting at a camp near Dohuk. Many fled their homes in Sinjar over a decade ago after brutal Islamic State attacks. Thousands were killed or enslaved as IS militants targeted Yazidis, labeling them heretics. Years after IS’s defeat, many Yazidis still cannot return home due to political divisions, destroyed infrastructure, and competing armed factions controlling Sinjar.
Displaced voter Edris Zozani supported the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP), one of Iraq’s two major Kurdish factions. “Independent Yazidi candidates lack influence,” he said. “Those who join strong lists like the KDP can better protect our community.” Despite small numbers returning to Sinjar, many Yazidis see little hope for rebuilding without stronger political backing and financial support.
Security Forces and Militias Join the Polls
In Baghdad, Iraqi soldiers, police, and members of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) also voted. The PMF, formed from mostly Shiite, Iran-backed militias that fought Islamic State, officially falls under Iraq’s military but still acts independently. Parliament continues to debate laws to formalize ties between the military and the PMF, a move criticized by Washington.
A PMF fighter in Baghdad said he backed “the list that defends the PMF,” though he avoided naming it. Several political parties tied to PMF factions are competing in the election, seeking to strengthen their role in parliament. The next government will face a delicate challenge: balancing U.S. pressure to limit militia influence with demands from Iran-aligned groups determined to maintain power within Iraq’s political landscape.
