Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) has dismissed allegations of fraud and tampering with the results of the recent parliamentary elections in the Kurdistan Region. Jumana al-Ghalai, the spokesperson for IHEC, described the accusations as "completely unacceptable" during an interview with Rudaw, reiterating the commission’s commitment to transparency.

“No instances of misconduct or violations occurred during the ballot counting process,” Ghalai stated, adding that accusations of fraud are not uncommon for the electoral body. “We face allegations of electoral fraud in every electoral process,” she said.

The elections, held on Sunday, saw a 72 percent voter turnout, with more than two million people casting their ballots across the Kurdistan Region, according to preliminary results. A total of 1,191 candidates competed for seats in the Kurdistan Parliament, which was reduced from 111 to 100 seats following a ruling by Iraq’s federal court earlier this year.

IHEC emphasized that the election was conducted with "complete integrity and transparency" and noted that the process had been praised by international and Arab observers.

Hogr Chato, head of the Shams network for monitoring elections, reported 124 complaints from political parties regarding campaign violations. These included the use of campaigning propaganda in inappropriate ways, disclosing voter choices, coercion, and vote manipulation, all of which could lead to punishment under IHEC regulations.

Though regulations prohibit taking phones into voting booths, some monitors reported that enforcement of this rule was inconsistent at certain polling stations.

Despite the accusations, IHEC officials and international observers continue to affirm the credibility of the electoral process in the Kurdistan Region, aiming to ensure a fair outcome in the parliamentary race.