Digital Ballot Begins: Iraq Adopts Electronic Candidate Submission for 2025 Elections

By Kamaran Aziz

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – In a move seen as a major step toward electoral modernization, Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) has officially launched an electronic candidate registration system ahead of the country’s upcoming parliamentary elections.

Marwan Mohammed, head of IHEC’s Erbil office, confirmed the announcement at a press conference on Sunday, revealing that political parties must now submit their candidate lists through a newly introduced digital platform.

Representatives of political parties are required to first visit the political parties’ office in Baghdad to obtain a unique access code to the platform. In contrast, independent candidates can go directly to their nearest IHEC office—including the Erbil branch, which began offering the service on Sunday.

The application period for candidacy runs from May 25 to June 24. Mohammed outlined the basic eligibility requirements: candidates must be Iraqi nationals, at least 30 years of age, and hold a bachelor's degree or its equivalent.

However, coalition and political party candidates may include individuals holding only a high school diploma, provided they comprise no more than 20% of the total list.

Candidates contesting general (non-quota) seats must hold a bachelor’s degree, whereas those seeking minority quota seats are eligible with a high school diploma or equivalent. Importantly, residency in or origin from the constituency is not required to run for election in that area.

Strict legal and ethical criteria have also been introduced.

Candidates must have a clean legal record, free of corruption charges or crimes involving moral turpitude. Individuals previously convicted—regardless of later pardons—are barred from contesting.

Active members of the armed or security forces are prohibited from running, with the exception of civil servants. Sitting judges and current or former members of the Electoral Commission are likewise disqualified.

Mohammed further emphasized that independent candidates must electronically submit proof of endorsement from at least 500 registered voters in their intended constituency. These endorsing voters must be listed in the official voter registry of the same electoral district.

For those running for national-level quota seats, endorsements apply across a single electoral district encompassing all of Iraq.

With the rollout of this electronic system, the IHEC aims to streamline and secure the nomination process, signaling a shift toward more transparent and technologically integrated elections in Iraq.