ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq -  Iraq’s National Security Service (INSS) said Saturday that it arrested 46 people accused of buying and selling voter cards across multiple provinces, including the capital, Baghdad, weeks before the country's parliamentary elections are set to commence.

The agency said its units carried out separate raids in Baghdad, Anbar, and Nineveh provinces based on intelligence operations. Authorities also seized 1,841 voter cards from the suspects, it said.

Selling or purchasing voter cards is prohibited under Iraqi law for parties, candidates, and voters alike. The cards serve as the official documents that allow citizens to cast their ballots on election day.

The INSS said the suspects and the seized cards were referred to judicial authorities for legal action.

Iraq is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections on November 11, with authorities taking extensive precautions to ensure the voting process' transparency and to prevent electoral fraud.

Raed Aziz, a media advisor for Dhi Qar's High Electoral Commission, told The New Region on Saturday that 24 confirmed violations have been discovered in the province in recent days, with roughly another 20 cases still being investigated. Aziz noted that "an average of 5,000 [voter] cards were delivered to citizens daily" in preparations for the elections and that financial penalties have been levied against offenders. 

In July, Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) warned citizens that selling or buying biometric voter cards was pointless, since voters are required to confirm their identity in person on election day through fingerprint and facial recognition systems.

The commission stressed that only the rightful cardholder can cast a ballot.

The IHEC also cautioned that attempts to trade voter cards would carry serious penalties, including the disqualification of candidates, alliances, or entire parties found guilty.

The commission said it was taking all necessary steps to safeguard the election process and prevent violations that could undermine its fairness.