Constitutional Oversight of Parliamentary Elections in Iraq: An Analytical Study

Abstract

This study examines constitutional oversight of elections to the Iraqi Council of Representatives and the distribution of authority among the Independent High Electoral Commission, the Judicial Electoral Panel, and the Federal Supreme Court. It treats electoral integrity as a continuous process extending from voter registration, candidate approval, and campaigning to polling, counting, adjudication of complaints and appeals, and final certification. Using a legal-analytical method and relying exclusively on the material contained in Chapter three of the thesis, the study finds that Iraq has developed a multi-level model combining administrative, judicial, and constitutional review. Its effectiveness, however, is limited by uncertainty over the boundary between formal certification and substantive review, the absence of sufficiently precise standards linking violations to electoral outcomes, and continuing concerns surrounding electronic counting and documentation. The study recommends clearer jurisdictional rules, proportionate electoral sanctions, and stronger documentation and transparency safeguards.