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Early voting began in Iraq’s parliamentary elections, with security forces, prisoners and internally displaced people voting two days before Sunday’s general poll.
Iraqis must elect a new parliament in the fifth such vote since a 2003 US-led invasion toppled longtime leader Saddam Hussein.
A total of 329 seats are up for grabs in the election, which was brought forward from 2022 as a concession to the pro-democracy youth-led protests that erupted in late 2019.
But many voters should stay on the sidelines amid widespread anger over corruption and ineffective governance that has failed to meet the aspirations of 40 million Iraqis, 60% of whom are under 25.
There are fears that voter turnout may fall below the 44.5% figure recorded in 2018.
Over 25 million citizens have the right to vote, but nationals living abroad do not. Voters are expected to present a biometric card for what has been designed as a fully electronic voting process. However, some have not received the cards and authorities say arrangements have been made to ensure they are not excluded.
Displaced Yazidi minority sect prepare to vote in Sharya camp in Duhok [Ari Jalal/Reuters]Ali Hashem of Al Jazeera, in a report from the capital, Baghdad, said there were 600 polling stations across the country dedicated to early voting on Friday.
“This election means a lot to Iraqis, especially since it is the main demand of the protests in 2019,” he said. “The new electoral law will allow more independent candidates in parliament. However, there is a bit of skepticism among the Iraqi public – mainly Iraqi civil society – as to whether this will be possible. “
More than 3,240 candidates are in the running, including 950 women.
A quarter of the seats are reserved for female candidates and nine for minorities, including Christians and Yazidis.
This year’s elections will be held under a new reformed electoral law that divides Iraq into 83 constituencies, instead of 18.
The new single-member constituency system is supposed to stimulate independents and reduce traditional political blocs, largely centered on religious, ethnic and clan affiliations.
Iraq’s Shiite Muslim majority groups have dominated since the overthrow of Saddam’s Sunni Arab-majority government, but they are divided among themselves.
There are also groups representing the Sunni Arab and Kurdish Arab minorities.
Sadrists
The largest bloc, with 54 seats in the last assembly, was led by Shia Muslim scholar Muqtada al-Sadr, a former head of an anti-American militia.
He has become a vocal critic of corrupt politicians and inane public authorities, although his supporters are also active at all levels of the state apparatus.
The al-Sadr-led Sairoon bloc could strengthen its grip in parliament after scoring big points in the 2018 election.
pro-Iranian factions
Candidates representing pro-Tehran paramilitary groups were first elected to parliament in 2018, a year after their fighters played a key role in the defeat of the armed group ISIL (ISIL).
The Conquest Alliance is led by Hadi al-Ameri, who also heads the Badr organization, one of the factions of the Hashd al-Shaabi, former paramilitaries now integrated into the regular forces.
Displaced person from Yazidi minority sect votes at Sharya camp in Duhok [Ari Jalal/Reuters]Another major player is Huqooq, which is close to the Hezbollah Brigades, another group under the aegis of Hashd.
Former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who ruled Iraq from 2006 to 2014, heads the Alliance for the Rule of Law.
The Alliance of State Forces brings together the groups of former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who led the fight against ISIL (ISIL), and Ammar al-Hakim, who leads the moderates of the Shiite camp.
Sunni groups
The influential speaker of parliament, Mohammed al-Halbousi, leads the successful Taqaddum (Progress) movement which enjoys the support of the predominantly Sunni west of Iraq.
Their main competitor is the Azm (Determination) movement of controversial Sunni politician Khamis al-Khanjar, sanctioned by Washington and accused of corruption.
Kurdish factions
The two main historical parties are the Democratic Party of Kurdistan (PDK) of the Barzani clan and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) of the Talabani clan.
The Kurdish opposition is represented by Jamaa Islamiya, the recently formed New Generation movement and Goran (Change).
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