Kurdish political leaders in Kirkuk and Nineveh are calling on displaced voters to return home for Iraq’s upcoming elections. They emphasized that every vote counts and that Kurdish participation is crucial to maintaining political balance in disputed provinces.
The call comes as Iraq prepares for its legislative elections on November 11. Kurdish officials warned that if displaced Kurds fail to vote in their home provinces, their community’s influence in parliament could weaken.
After federal forces retook control of Kirkuk, Nineveh, and other disputed areas in 2017, thousands of Kurds fled to the Kurdistan Region for safety. Many of them settled permanently in cities like Erbil and Duhok. However, under Iraqi law, voters must cast their ballots in their original provinces. This means displaced Kurds must return home to participate.
Shakhawan Abdullah, head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s electoral list in Kirkuk, described the issue as decisive for Kurdish representation. He also said that every vote counts and urged displaced citizens to travel home and cast their ballots. Abdullah warned that a drop in voter numbers could create serious consequences for Kurdish political power in Kirkuk.
He estimated that about 100,000 displaced Kurds from Kirkuk should return to vote. In the 2021 elections, Kurds secured six of Kirkuk’s twelve parliamentary seats. Abdullah stressed that lower participation this time could disrupt the province’s fragile political balance.
Kirkuk Governor Rebwar Taha, who leads the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s list in the province, also appealed for unity. He encouraged Kurdish voters to avoid wasting their votes on lists unlikely to win seats. Moreover, Taha emphasized that internal competition only weakens the Kurdish position and that cooperation between parties is essential for stability.
In Nineveh, Kurdish leaders shared the same concern. Mohammed Kakayi, head of the PUK bloc in Nineveh’s provincial council, said more than 40,000 Kurds from Nineveh currently live in the Kurdistan Region. He explained that Kurdish parties are coordinating with security checkpoints between Nineveh, Erbil, and Duhok to help voters return easily on election day.
Nawzad Hadi, head of the KDP’s organizational bureau in Nineveh, echoed the same message. He urged displaced Kurds to return home and vote to maintain fair representation. Kurdish leaders agreed that every vote counts and that unity will determine their political future in Iraq.
With over 27 million Iraqis eligible to vote and thousands of candidates running, the elections are set to shape Iraq’s next political phase. However, Kurdish leaders hope that strong turnout from displaced communities will safeguard their voice in Baghdad and ensure equal participation in Iraq’s democracy.
