Iraq’s parliamentary elections are a month away and already the media is full of stories of the political parties cheating as happens every time votes are cast.
The most common form of fraud is buying and selling of voting cards to ensure victory. As early as March there were reports of cards being bought. At the time they were selling for $400 each. Brokers were collecting cards from people and selling them in lots.
On June 12 Bas News ran a story that Hashd units were buying up cards in Mosul. They were going neighborhood to neighborhood for several months trying to purchase them.
On October 4 46 people were arrested for trading in cards in Baghdad, Anbar, Diwaniya and Ninewa. 1800 cards were confiscated.
The Tammuz Organization noted a new form of voter card manipulation. It said that parties were not only buying voter cards in their home areas but purchasing them in the districts of their opponents to try to make them lose. The lists have hired a small army of people to carry out this policy.
Another common form of cheating is for parties and Hashd units to force people to vote for them. Al Aalem reported that some Hashd leaders have told their men to turn over their voting cards and those that refused were punished. In Salahaddin and Diyala candidates backed by Hashd factions were threatening people if they didn’t cast ballots for them.
Another tactic being employed is parties exploiting their rights to observers at election facilities. Allegedly the lists are registering far more observers then necessary. Some of them will simply be paid to vote for their employer. Others who actually show up at voting centers will help their parties cheat.
This happens every time ballots are cast. The ruling parties simply aren’t interested in democracy just winning. It’s one of the reason why parliament and the government are dominated by the same parties and many of the same leaders since 2005. Newer lists can get some people elected but can’t challenge the system because they don’t have the organization nor more importantly the resources to compete with the elite who loot the state to enrich themselves and stay in power through manipulating elections like is going on now.
SOURCES
Al Aalem, “The Commission blocks the buying of electoral cards on stock exchange,” 6/4/25
- “Electoral intimidation in the Popular Mobilization Forces: Punishing those who vote outside the factional line,” 6/5/25
- "The exchange for purchasing electoral cards resumes operations … $400 per card,” 5/10/25
- “The number of observers is swelling: a tool for electoral integrity or a cover for vote-buying?” 10/4/25
Bas News, “Candidates Buying Votes, Threatening Citizens Ahead of Iraqi Elections," - “Hashd Militias Accused of Buying Voter Cards Ahead of Iraq Elections,” 6/12/25
Al Mada, “Commander of the Abbas Combat Division: Dangerous and illegal practices within the Popular Mobilization Forces,” 6/5/25
- “The electoral race begins early in Nineveh, and its leaders will file complaints with the commission and the judiciary about the purchase of voter cards,” 5/19/25
- “The Tammuz Organization calls for an investigation into the circulating news about the buying and selling of electoral cards,” 9/30/25
Rudaw, “Iraq arrests 46 accused of selling voter cards,” 10/4/25
Shafaq News, “Eight detained in Mosul with 2,500 stolen voter cards,” 9/23/25
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