Iraq held early parliamentary election on Sunday, with fears voter turnout would drop below 44.5 percent figures registered in 2018.

The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) announced initial results of 94% of vote counts at 7:32 a.m. on Sunday, saying the turnout reached 41 percent across Iraq.

“The votes were changed in third and fourth circles in Erbil,” the PUK’s election committee said. “In some polling stations in those circles, voting machines were taken outside and then brought inside the stations.”

“Some of the ballot boxes were changed and were opened. In some places, votes of candidates are more than 200, but in some other places, they don’t exceed 20 votes,” it added.

The results of the parliamentary election were changed in the interests of one party, the committee said, without naming the party.

“We are waiting on the results of the appeals.”

The electoral commission has yet to announce the final results of the parliamentary election.

Unofficial data sent to Esta Media Network showed that Sairoon bloc of Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr had secured 65 seats and al-Fateh alliance led by Hadi al-Amiri also won 38 seats.

State of Law coalition headed by Nouri al-Maliki obtained 20 seats and Azim alliance by Khamis al-Khanjar won 20. Mohammed al-Halbousi’s Taqaddum secured 18 seats.

Hikma Movement headed by Ammar al-Hakim won 12 seats of parliament, and the Imtidad movement secured nine seats. The movement represents the 2019 anti-government protesters.

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