ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Iraq’s electoral body said on Monday that the final results of the November elections have been sent to the federal court for ratification, nearly a month after voting.

Iraq’s parliamentary elections were held on November 11, in which nearly 7,750 candidates competed for the legislature’s 329 seats.

"The Independent High Electoral Commission [IHEC] has sent the final election results to the Federal Court for ratification," IHEC spokesperson Jumana al-Ghalai briefed in a statement on Monday.

The announcement comes a day after the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council said that the IHEC has completed reviewing all 853 appeals filed against the results of the elections.

Once Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court ratifies the results, the parliament must hold its first session within 15 days.

During the first session, the representatives elect a speaker, a post that traditionally goes to a Sunni Arab. Within 30 days of the first session, the parliament must also elect a president for the country, which is reserved for Kurds.

The president then must name a prime minister-designate, selected by the largest parliamentary bloc, and task them with the formation of the Council of Ministers within fifteen days. The prime minister-designate would need to be replaced by the president if the cabinet fails to be formed in a timely manner.

Baghdad has often failed to honor the constitutional frameworks, as agreements between rivaling blocs hinder the process, resulting in long delays and, at times, unrest in the country.