ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani personally participated in Iraq's democratic process on Tuesday, casting his ballot as general parliamentary elections got underway across the country.

President Barzani's vote on the morning of November 11, 2025, was preceded by a powerful call to action, urging the citizens of the Kurdistan Region to fulfill their national duty by turning out in high numbers.

In a formal statement released on Monday evening, the President framed participation in the election as a critical act of civic engagement. “Voting is a right, a duty, a message, and a trust — a national responsibility and an opportunity for renewal,” Barzani said, explicitly calling on all eligible voters to make their voices heard.

His message underscored the significance of the election for both the Kurdistan Region's future within the Iraqi federal framework and for the health of the country's broader democratic system. By describing the vote as a "trust" and an "opportunity for renewal," Barzani highlighted the potential for the election to reaffirm public faith in political institutions and chart a new course.

The election in the Kurdistan Region, which has over 2.8 million registered voters, is a key battleground in the national poll, with intense competition among local parties for representation in the 329-seat Iraqi parliament.

President Barzani’s high-profile endorsement of the electoral process serves to lend his stature and influence to the proceedings, encouraging a smooth and participatory vote. His actions and statements are seen as a direct appeal for a strong Kurdish turnout to ensure the region's interests are robustly represented in Baghdad.

As polling stations across Erbil, Duhok, Sulaimani, and Halabja opened their doors, the image of the region's president fulfilling this "national responsibility" himself stood as a central symbol of the day, embodying the hope for a peaceful and consequential election.