Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission announced the preliminary results of the May 12 parliamentary elections on May 13. The announcement of the final results has been delayed due to disputes between political parties.

Turnout was very low at only 44.52% — the lowest of all post-2003 elections. Participation was 79% in 2015, 62.4% in 2010 and 60% in 2014. The low numbers are likely a sign of public anger at the entire political class, as people have grown sick of its constant failure to provide them with adequate services and political and economic reform.

Despite some skirmishes in Sulaimaniyah and some objections in Kirkuk over the counting and sorting of ballots, the election saw very little violence.

The Gorran (Change) Movement strongly objected to alleged violations by the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. Meanwhile, the Al-Wataniya Coalition led by Iyad Allawi called for a redo of the vote while keeping the current government as caretaker government due to “the Iraqis’ large abstention from voting and the committed acts of violence and fraud.”