The Independent High Elections and Referendum Commission in the Kurdistan Region (IHEC) said in a written statement that the period reserved for early voting will not be extended, cautioning the commission workers not to violate the rules.

“The Early election came to an end at 6 p.m. and the time will not be extended. There will be legal proceedings against any employee who does not abide by the commission rules,” the statement read.

The count of the votes will start after the election with the party representatives monitoring the process, NRT reported.

It added that “a form showing the results of the election at the polling stations will be given to the political party observers.”

“The commission will not announce the results of the early election until the end of the general election and the commission is not responsible for any result expected to be released another party.”

As many as 92 percent of the eligible voters for early election have turned out to the polling stations and cast their ballots, the Independent High Elections and Referendum Commission (IHERC) said.

The rate of participation was 92 percent in Erbil, 89 percent in Sulaimani, 93 percent in Duhok, and 93 percent in Halabja, according to IHERC.

Polling stations for early voters opened at 8 a.m.

As many as 170,469 voters, including members of the police, Asayish (security), Peshmerga, and Zeravani forces are eligible to vote early, according to the Kurdish elections commission.

In Erbil, there are 72,653 eligible early voters, 62,220 in Sulaimani, 33,421 in Duhok, and 2,175 in Halabja.

IHERC has prepared 99 voting stations, including 41 in Erbil, 37 in Sulaimani, 20 in Duhok, and one in Halabja.

As many as 22 international organizations have registered to observe the election, according to the commission.

The people of the Kurdistan Region will vote for the parliamentary election on Sunday.

As many as 773 candidates are on the ballot, including 241 women, from 29 entities. Candidates are competing to win one of 111 seats.

Reporter’s code: 50101