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A travel ban that came into force at 7 am between the provinces of the Kurdistan region remains in force until 18 hours.
The move is to protect the polls on polling day.
The electoral commission praised the security situation during the early vote of Peshmerga and other security personnel on Friday.
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10:59
Electoral Commission: the process goes smoothly
Under the watchful eye of dozens of international observers, media and journalists, Kurdistan's electoral body said the process was proceeding smoothly.
"We urge voters to produce the necessary documents to vote," said Aram Bradosty, a member of the commission. he detailed the documents required to vote on Saturday.
He noted that 50 international organizations have registered to oversee the process.
In addition, 35 media covering the first election of the Kurdistan Region since 2013 to cover the process
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10:35
KRSC Chief of Security Barzani hopes the process is clean and fluid
Masrour Barzani, chief of the Security Council of the Kurdistan Region, voted in Pirmam.
"I hope the process unfolds in a clean and harmonious way," he said.
The electoral commission thanked the security forces on Saturday for the absence of incidents during the early vote of Peshmerga and other security apparatus on Friday.
He said that the KDP has the right to take the Iraqi presidency.
The KDP is the largest party in the Kurdistan region – both in parliament in Baghdad and in Erbil.
The important result of today's election is the lasting victory of the Kurdistan democratic process. I hope that the elections will be a fair and orderly process, and I urge all parties to respect the will of the people to win the party win-mb. pic.twitter.com/5x8F67g9hF
– Masrour Barzani (@masrour_barzani) September 30, 2018
"The success of the electoral process is the success of all parties," said Barzani, son of KDP president Masoud Barzani.
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9:55
Kosrat Rasul calls for unity between the KDP and the PUK
PUK Acting Chief Kosrat Rasul voted in Sulaimani.
"It's a legitimate right of the people to vote," said
Rasul, a veteran of Peshmerga.
النائب الأول للأمين العام لحزب الاتحاد الوطني الكوردست اني كوسرت رسول يدلي بصوته في انتخابات # برلمان_كوردستان pic.twitter.com/RWQW8HALOP
– Rudaw عربية (@rudaw_arabic) September 30, 2018
He called for unity between the parties, naming the PUK and the KDP.
PUK holds third largest number of seats in parliament and faces
competition in his stronghold of Sulaimani smaller parties and Gorran,
who seeks to rebuild after a dismal performance of Iraqi parliamentarianism
election.
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9:50
The boss of the new generation is hoping for "real changes"
Shaswar Abdulwahid voted in the parliamentary elections in Sulaimani.
He said he hoped the vote would lead to "real change" for the Kurdistan region.
Abdulwahid urged voters to participate in order to express their type of government.
The new generation was created this year. He won four surprising seats in the parliamentary elections in Iraq.
Asked about the Iraqi presidency, he replied: "Unfortunately, this post has no weight or benefit for the Kurdish nation."
The goal of the new generation in Baghdad will be legislation, not messages. They form an alliance with the Iraqi Prime Minister in office, Haider al-Abadi, while the formation of the government continues.
"What's really important for us is to submit our bills," he said.
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9:42
The director of the Erkil agency of the PUK says that this election will have an impact on the "services" for the population
Shalaw Kosrat Rasul, head of the PUK branch in Erbil, voted in Sulaimani.
"We want the next four years to be the services and service of the people of Kurdistan," he said.
Shalaw is the son of UPK interim leader Kosrat Rasul. Their list is led by Qubad Talabani, son of the late co-founder and party leader, Jalal Talabani.
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9:35
The movement for change calls for strong participation
Gorran (Movement for Change) leader Omar Sayid Ali voted against Sulaimani.
"I urge people to vote, their votes can create political changes in governance," Ali told reporters.
The party opposed the government dominated by the PUK-KDP. This is the first election in the Kurdistan region for Gorran without its founder, Nawshirwan Mustafa.
Gorran leader Omar Sayid Ali visits a polling station in Sulaimani to participate in the election #KurdistanVotes in a parliamentary election pic.twitter.com/cR4Ark6mjM
– Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) September 30, 2018
Gorran holds the second largest number of seats in Kurdistan's parliament, but he performed badly in Iraq's May 12 parliamentary elections and alleged fraud by other parties in Kurdistan.
"I call on the commission to remain neutral and prevent fraud," Ali said. "Gorran is committed to the decisions made by the electoral commission".
He is looking to restore his stature against several small parties and rival PUK in their energy base Sulaimani.
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9:13
Masoud Barzani votes in the general elections: "We all need everyone"
Masoud Barzani, president of the KDP, voted in a polling station in
Pirmam where foreign observers oversee the electoral process.
He wished success to all political parties.
A nation decides the weight of parties, he explained.
"We all need each other," he said because he
believes that this is what will make the success of the Kurdish nation.
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8:45
"Kaka Hama" calls for unity while Kurdistan goes to the polls
Mohammed Haji Mahmood, leader of the Democratic Socialist Party of Kurdistan, called on the people of the Kurdistan region to vote and exercise their natural right.
On the question of the Iraqi presidency, Mahmood urged political parties to enter the Iraqi parliament hall with only one candidate, not seven.
Mahmood also urged the electoral commission to prevent any violation of this right.
Mahmood or "Kaka Hama", although from a small party, is seen as a unifying force on the Kurdish political scene, putting the interests of the Peshmerga, especially before partisanship.
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8:05
Prime Minister of the KRG, vote of the Deputy Prime Minister
Nechirvan Barzani, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government voted at the opening of the poll in Erbil. He is deputy head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). He encouraged eligible voters to vote.
"I hope that the results of the vote will be respected because it is the people's choice for a new parliament and a new government," Barzani said.
His Deputy Prime Minister, Qubad Talabani, a member of the PUK, also voted at the opening of the poll in Sulaimani.
PUK President and KRG Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani Vote in Sulaimani #KurdistanVotes pic.twitter.com/8I4eGiwgoK
– Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) September 30, 2018
Qubad Talabani described the elections as a "national duty" and a "right" to be exercised by the people of Kurdistan.
Talabani said that political developments in the Kurdistan region over the last decade have made people more aware.
"I believe this election will change the political equations in Kurdistan," he said.
The previous parliament was filled with bitter divisions that prevented the legislature from being passed.
"This country needs an environment in which we can live and have politics in peace, we must learn to live with differences and disagreements," Talabani urged.
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12:01
Polling stations open at 8 pm for the election of the parliament of the Kurdistan region
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Polling stations in the Kurdistan region are open Sunday at 8 am during the first parliamentary elections in the semi-autonomous region since 2013.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) was due to hold elections in 2017, but they were postponed following the referendum on the independence of the region.
Voters will have the opportunity to pass judgment on the government's record after five turbulent years, marked by a fiscal crisis, the war with the Islamic State and the referendum, which led to the loss of territory when Iraqi forces took control of Kirkuk and other disputed areas in October last year.
It is also taking place in the context of the government's training negotiations in Baghdad, where Kurdish parties hope to strengthen their position and increase their influence.
Peshmerga and other members of the security forces voted early on 28 September. According to official figures published by the electoral commission, the participation rate was high in the region: 92% in Erbil, 89% in Sulaimani, 93% in Duhok and 50% in Halabja.
Critics say the KRG deprived health care workers and detainees of the prison, after their respective ministries failed to register these groups before the deadline of the electoral commission.
Kurds living in the diaspora will also be denied the opportunity to vote because the commission does not have the funds to set up polling stations abroad.
Several parties expressed concern over the freedom and fairness of the elections after irregularities in Iraq's May 12 parliamentary elections resulted in a partial manual recount of the ballot papers.
The electoral commission insists that it has taken steps to clean the electoral register of repeated names and deceased voters, and has decided not to use electronic voting machines, which, according to critics, are likely to be altered.
In a controversial manner, the commission also plans to photograph voters and their documents upon arrival at polling stations to prevent the repetition of votes.
International observers, including officials from several foreign consulates, will visit polling stations throughout the day to follow the procedures.
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