On the 18th, Iraq held votes in provincial council elections in 15 provinces except for the three provinces of the Kurdish Autonomous Region. Voting begins at 7 a.m. local time and is scheduled to close at 6 p.m. on the same day. Some 16 million voters will be able to cast their ballots at 7,166 polling stations in 15 provinces, and 285 provincial councillors will be elected from 5,901 candidates.
A voter casts his ballot at a polling station in Baghdad, Iraq, on December 18. Xinhua News Agency (photo by Khalil Dawood)
A voter shows ink on his finger after casting his ballot at a polling station in Baghdad, Iraq, on December 18. Xinhua News Agency (photo by Khalil Dawood)
A voter votes at a polling station in Baghdad, Iraq, on December 18. Xinhua News Agency (photo by Khalil Dawood)
Security personnel stand guard outside a polling station in Baghdad, Iraq, on December 18. Xinhua News Agency (photo by Khalil Dawood)
Security personnel stand guard outside a polling station in Baghdad, Iraq, on December 18. Xinhua News Agency (photo by Khalil Dawood)
A voter casts his ballot at a polling station in Baghdad, Iraq, on December 18. Xinhua News Agency (photo by Khalil Dawood)