Iraq elections 2021
Iraq elections 2021: results to come Monday afternoon amid fears of low turnout
We will not abandon Abu Hashim,” Mousa Shaghati, 45, a carpenter, said, emerging from a polling station in Sadr City with his wife and son, using the nickname for Mr Al Sadr.
“We all voted for the Sadrist bloc,” Mr Shagati said, wearing a T-shirt with Mr Al Sadr's picture.
Tight security measures have been put in place to protect voters.
Roads leading to polling centres have been closed off with razor wire and security forces are on patrol.
Authorities closed airports and land crossings from 9am on Sunday until 6am on Monday. Lorries with capacity of more than two tonnes, motorcycles and auto rickshaws were not allowed on the streets.
Movement between the provinces was also prohibited. All shops and restaurants have been ordered to remain closed until Monday morning, excluding pharmacies, bakeries, supermarkets and grocers.
whoever gets the most votes in each electoral neighborhood.
In foregoing druthers, political parties were awarded seats hung on their share of the civil vote.
The new law and an desirousness for change have encouraged independent campaigners to contend against major Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish political parties.
The main Shiite groups are the Sadrist Movement, the Fatah Alliance made up of Iran- backed Shiite battalion, and the National State Forces Alliance created by former lead minister Haider Al Abadi and Shiite divine Ammar Al Hakim.