Hoshyar Zebari, a senior member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party's political bureau, announced today that the upcoming parliamentary elections in the Kurdistan Region will take place as planned. During a press conference in Duhok, Zebari emphasized that the success of the elections will largely depend on voter turnout.

"The participation of voters will be decisive," Zebari stated, addressing concerns about external regional tensions. He assured that the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah, as well as other regional conflicts, would not affect the elections. "We are committed to holding the elections on time, and we aim to establish a competent and effective government capable of addressing the future challenges of the Kurdistan Region," Zebari added.

The general elections for the sixth session of the Kurdistan Parliament are scheduled for October 20, 2024, while special elections for the Peshmerga and other security forces will take place two days earlier, on October 18.

Zebari called on embassies and international organizations to closely monitor the elections, stressing the importance of transparency and fairness. "We have requested that international observers ensure the elections are free from fraud and manipulation," he said.

Over 215,000 voters are expected to participate in the special voting process, which will be conducted in 165 polling centers with 749 polling stations across the Kurdistan Region and beyond.

For the first time, voters residing outside the Kurdistan Region will be allowed to cast their votes, expanding participation beyond the four provinces of the Kurdistan Region. Special election polling centers will also be available in eight other Iraqi provinces.

The distribution of polling centers is as follows:

• Erbil: 62 polling centers, 306 stations
• Sulaymaniyah: 57 polling centers, 276 stations
• Duhok: 33 polling centers, 142 stations
• Halabja: 1 polling center, 3 stations
• Baghdad (Rusafa): 1 polling center, 3 stations
• Nineveh: 4 polling centers, 5 stations
• Kirkuk: 1 polling center, 2 stations
• Diyala: 1 polling center, 1 station
• Anbar: 1 polling center, 1 station
• Baghdad (Karkh): 2 polling centers, 8 stations
• Wasit: 1 polling center, 1 station

Voting will take place from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The general elections will determine the composition of the next Kurdistan Parliament, setting the stage for future governance and leadership in the region.