Iraq's special parliamentary elections concluded with an resounding 82.42% voter turnout, an outcome hailed by officials as a secure, transparent, and democratic success that builds powerful momentum for the critical general elections on Tuesday.

The special vote, held on Sunday for over 1.3 million members of the security forces and displaced citizens, was executed smoothly, setting a dramatic and positive precedent for the polls that will shape the nation's political future.

In a statement, Omar Ahmed, chairman of the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), confirmed the high participation rate and called for national unity, urging all parties to cooperate to make the entire electoral process a success.

The logistical operation saw polling stations open for eleven hours across Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, welcoming a steady stream of voters. The high engagement from the security forces and displaced communities—groups central to the state's protection and recovery—signals a deep investment in the democratic process.

On the ground, voters expressed satisfaction and hope. "We voted in a very democratic way and without any pressure... and we hope the situation will be better," said Ahmed Jassim, a member of the security forces.

For displaced citizens like Ismail Hussein, who has lived in the Kurdistan Region for ten years, the vote was a critical opportunity to demand change. "We demand that the new Iraqi government provide job opportunities and improve our living conditions," he stated.

Officials confirmed that a comprehensive security plan was executed flawlessly. Qais Muhammadawi, head of the election security committee, detailed that voting device memories were transferred to provincial offices under protection and would be sent to the national center in Baghdad "with a special force and in an encrypted manner."

In a move to ensure transparency, IHEC confirmed that the results of the special vote will not be announced separately but will be integrated with Tuesday's general election results, with final totals announced within 24 hours of the polls closing.

Despite the overall success, incidents of attempted fraud emerged. Iraqi Federal Police Intelligence announced the seizure of a vehicle in Baghdad containing a large number of voter cards, with suspects confessing to intending to use them illegally. Separate arrests for alleged vote-buying were also reported in Basra, Baghdad, and Anbar.