Iraq's electoral commission stated on Saturday that objections filed against the preliminary results of the recent parliamentary elections will not change the announced outcomes, seeking to clarify the legal process amid post-election scrutiny.

In an interview with the state news agency INA, Hassan Salman, the commission's legal adviser, explained that all submissions so far are classified as "complaints," not formal appeals.

“All objections submitted so far are classified as complaints only,” Salman said. “It is not possible to file an appeal against preliminary results.”

He detailed a three-tier system for categorizing these complaints:

Yellow: Minor issues that are dismissed procedurally.
Green: Require investigation and must be resolved within 72 hours.
Red: Could potentially impact the election results.

Salman added that the commission "has not recorded any red complaints so far," indicating that no objections to date have the potential to change the preliminary tallies. He expressed confidence that the complaint settlement process "may be faster than in previous elections" and could be concluded as early as next week.

Addressing technical delays in receiving results from some polling stations, Salman attributed the issue to minor technical problems. He emphasized that the number of affected stations is small and does not influence the overall results that have been announced.

The legal adviser also outlined the next steps. Once the commission's top administrative body, the Board of Commissioners, certifies the final results, a formal three-day window for appeals will open. The board would then be required to review any appeals within seven days.

The commission announced on Thursday that it expects to announce the final results next week, though a specific date was not provided.

The preliminary results from the November 11 vote placed the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, led by incumbent Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, in first place. The current four-year term of the 329-seat Council of Representatives began on January 9, 2022. Iraqi law mandates that parliamentary elections must be held at least 45 days before the end of the legislature's term.