Iraq’s Election Commission released partial early results for voter turnout in the provinces. It showed a surge of voting across the country compared to the last parliamentary elections in 2021.
Seven provinces had a 20%+ increase in participation. That was led by Irbil which was +33% going from just 35.87% voting rate in 2021 to 69.02% in 2025. It was followed by +31% in Ninewa +29% in Sulaymaniya, +27% in Dohuk, +25% in Anbar, +24% in Kirkuk and +21% in Salahaddin.
In comparison Maysan (+4%), Najaf (+6%), Karbala (+8%), and Babil (+8%) only saw marginal changes between 2021 and 2025.
Overall voting numbers are not accurate due to regular cheating by the ruling parties. The elite spent $3 billion on campaigns this year. Given that a huge amount of money must have been spent to buy voter cards, offer rewards in return for people’s support and more.
One major cause for the difference in voting may be the stability that is currently experiencing. This year there was a spate of attacks by the Resistance during the summer going after the Kurds which quickly subsided. Otherwise things have been very quiet. Besides the regular differences between Kurdistan and Baghdad over the budget and oil exports there were no major political disputes either. This is the first time this has happened in the post-Saddam era.
In comparison, in 2021 the protest movement was violently put down by government forces with thousands of people killed and injured. The pro-Iran Resistance was carrying out regular attacks upon the American presence. The economy was also suffering from a ballooning budget deficit due to an ever expanding public workforce and a decline in oil prices which the government is dependent upone. This led to a huge amount of dissatisfaction with the government and the lowest voter turnout since 2005 at just 41%.
The political parties have to exploit this goodwill by quickly forming a government which has never happened. That would truly usher in a new era in recent Iraqi history.
|
Province |
2021 Election |
2025 Election |
Difference |
|
Anbar |
39.98% |
65.93% |
+25.95% |
|
Babil |
41.51% |
49.82% |
+8.31% |
|
Baghdad |
25.30% |
47.41% |
+16.11% |
|
Basra |
33.34% |
47.94% |
+14.60% |
|
Dhi Qar |
37.49% |
50.21% |
+12.72% |
|
Diyala |
44.77% |
55.49% |
+10.72% |
|
Dohuk |
48.13% |
76.07% |
+27.94% |
|
Irbil |
35.87% |
69.02% |
+33.15% |
|
Karbala |
37.47% |
46.13% |
+8.66% |
|
Kirkuk |
40.63% |
65.02% |
+24.39% |
|
Maysan |
35.59% |
40.11% |
+4.52% |
|
Muthanna |
38.10% |
49.79% |
+11.69% |
|
Najaf |
35.71% |
42.70% |
+6.99% |
|
Ninewa |
34.46% |
65.90% |
+31.44% |
|
Qadisiya |
38.08% |
48.39% |
+10.31% |
|
Salahaddin |
44.56% |
66.44% |
+21.88% |
|
Sulaymaniya |
27.54% |
56.87% |
+29.33% |
|
Wasit |
35.59% |
+11.93 |
|
|
Total |
41% |
56% |
+15% |
SOURCES
Al Alam, “Election Campaigns Cost Parties $3 Billion … Where Does the Money Come From?” 11/10/25
Rudaw, “Election Results,” 10/12/21
Shafaq News, “Kirkuk Elections; Turnout 65.02%, PUK on top,” 11/12/25
- “Nineveh Elections; Turnout 65.9%, KDP on top,” 11/12/25
- “Wasit Elections; Turnout 47.52%, Wasit Al-Ajmal on top,” 11/12/25
Al Sumaria, “2025 elections: Voter turnout reveals major gaps in the south, north, and west,” 11/12/25
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