Halabja Governor praises peaceful special voting process in Kurdistan parliamentary elections

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - The Governor of Halabja, Azad Tofiq, expressed satisfaction with the smooth start of the special voting process for security forces in the Kurdistan Region's sixth parliamentary elections.

In a press conference held on Friday, Tofiq highlighted the peaceful and transparent nature of the voting procedure in the city.

"In Halabja, we're witnessing a calm process for special voting among internal security forces, police, Asayish, Zerevani, and other authorized personnel," Tofiq stated.

"At the Mamosta Burhan polling station, 952 members of the internal security forces are expected to cast their votes today," he added.

The governor emphasized the city's reputation for peace and stability, noting, "Our city is a model of tranquility and peace in Iraq and Kurdistan. We're grateful to the security forces for participating in the voting process without any issues."

Tofiq also addressed potential concerns, saying, "Any technical difficulties that may arise are under the purview of the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC). The commission has unanimously agreed with all political parties to resolve any issues that may occur and ensure all 952 eligible voters can exercise their right to vote."

The special voting process for security forces in the Kurdistan parliamentary elections began early Friday morning and will continue until 6:00 PM.

The IHEC is overseeing the entire electoral process.

According to IHEC statistics, out of the total 2,889,878 eligible voters for the Kurdistan Parliament's sixth term election, 215,960 are classified as special voters participating in today's poll. The breakdown of special voters by electoral district is as follows:

- Erbil: 89,791

- Sulaymaniyah: 78,661

- Duhok: 46,556

- Halabja: 952

To facilitate the special voting, 165 polling stations have been opened across the Kurdistan Region, with an additional 12 stations in other Iraqi cities. The distribution of polling stations is as follows:

- Erbil: 62 stations

- Sulaymaniyah: 57 stations

- Duhok: 33 stations

- Halabja: 1 station

- Nineveh: 4 stations

- Baghdad: 3 stations

- Kirkuk, Anbar, Salahuddin, Diyala, and Wasit: 1 station each

The general election for the sixth term of the Kurdistan Parliament is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 20. The IHEC has announced that preliminary results will be released within 24 hours of the conclusion of the voting process.

As Halabja and the rest of the Kurdistan Region move forward with this crucial democratic exercise, the peaceful conduct of the special voting process sets a positive tone for the upcoming general election.

The smooth operation in Halabja, often seen as a symbol of resilience in Kurdish history, underscores the region's commitment to democratic principles and peaceful political participation.