Security forces in Baghdad began deploying on Saturday evening to schools designated as polling centers in preparation for the upcoming parliamentary elections.
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A security source stated that "the deployment began near the schools, in accordance with the directives of the High Security Committee for Elections," explaining that security forces had begun "preparing inspection filters and personnel tents."
The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) had previously announced that setting the election holiday was not within its purview but rather the responsibility of the Council of Ministers. The IHEC indicated that it would take over the schools designated as polling centers from the 5th to the 13th of this month, two days after the general election.
Brigadier General Miqdad Miri, Head of the Department of Relations and Media at the Ministry of Interior, announced that approximately 170,000 officers and personnel from the Ministry would participate in securing the polling centers on both the special and general voting days. He added that the Ministry's operations would cover all areas, from the borders to city centers, without interruption, and that the Ministry of Interior would be on "Alert Level C" during the election period.
Miri noted that the ministry had recorded 526 rumors that attempted to influence the electoral process, stressing that there were no instructions to impose a curfew during the elections.