ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - An Iraqi court has sentenced four people to six months in prison for buying voter cards in Baghdad, the country’s judiciary announced on Monday, coming as authorities seek to clamp down on electoral violations ahead of upcoming parliamentary elections.

In a statement, the Judiciary’s Media Office said the al-Adhamiyah Misdemeanor Court issued the verdict against the four defendants for their involvement in purchasing voter cards ahead of elections.

The court said the ruling was based on Article 32(2) of the Iraqi Parliamentary Elections Law No. 9 of 2020, along with related provisions of the Penal Code.

Authorities warned that some individuals and groups attempt to buy citizens’ voter cards, the official document used for casting ballots, by offering money or promises of benefits in exchange for votes. Iraqi law strictly prohibits and criminalizes such practices.

In mid-October, Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) announced that it had completed all preparations for the November 11 parliamentary elections, warning candidates against attempts to buy or manipulate voter cards.

The commission said that, in coordination with the Supreme Judicial Council, it had filed criminal complaints against individuals involved in such practices and vowed to disqualify any candidate found guilty.

An IHEC official told The New Region on Monday that the electoral body has recorded over 540 violations so far, with most stemming from the placement of advertisements in prohibited areas and the use of public funds for campaigning.

The penalties for violators of election campaign guidelines range from 100,000 to 10 million dinars, according to the IHEC. 

More than 7,750 candidates are competing for 329 parliamentary seats under a proportional representation system, with penalties for electoral breaches ranging from 100,000 to 10 million dinars.

The warning came as Iraq braces for its first national vote since 2021, which saw historically low voter turnout.