Iraqi Electoral Commission: Turnout Reached 44.5%

The Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) said on Sunday that 44.5 percent of Iraqis cast their ballots in the first legislative elections in the country since the defeat of Islamic State last year.

“Of all 24.5 million eligible voters, just 10,8 million voted in the parliamentary polls with a percentage of 44.2,” local media quoted Riyadh al-Badran, the commission’s spokesperson, as saying.

Commenting on recent reports of fierce clashes between rival parties in oil-rich Kirkuk, Badran stressed that the electoral process was running smoothly there, noting that “all political parties have the right to challenge the results of elections.”

Saturday’s elections are the first in Iraq since the defeat of ISIL last year by Iraqi forces backed by popular forces.

The elections will decide the 329 members of the Council of Representatives who will in turn elect the Iraqi president and prime minister.