Security forces, internal migrants begin voting for Iraqi local elections

By Haydar Karaalp

BAGHDAD (AA) - Security forces and internal migrants in Iraq began to cast votes Saturday in local elections.

Residents, other than security forces and internal migrants, will vote Dec. 18 in the elections, in which provincial councils will be determined.

A total of 5,904 candidates from various parties and alliances are competing in the elections, in which approximately 16 million people have the right to vote.

In Iraq, where local elections were last held in 2013, security was put on "high alert" until the election ends.

The local elections do not include cities in the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG).