Iraq launched its parliamentary elections on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, as millions of citizens headed to the polls to elect a new 329-member Council of Representatives. The voting process, which began at 7:00 am local time (0400 GMT) and concluded at 6:00 pm (1500 GMT), was facilitated through 8,703 polling centers across the country. Over 20 million registered voters were eligible to participate in this pivotal democratic exercise, according to the Independent High Electoral Commission. The elections were conducted under a mandatory election silence period, enforced for security reasons, reflecting the nation’s fragile political climate. This marks the sixth parliamentary election since the 2003 US-led invasion, with the 2021 elections having been marred by violent clashes and prolonged political gridlock. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, in a televised address on Friday, emphasized the significance of this election, describing it as the most critical since 2003 and a determinant of Iraq’s future for the next two decades. The polling is seen as a litmus test for Iraq’s stability and democratic progress.