View source for 2009 Iraqi governorate elections

{{Short description|2nd Iraqi governorate elections}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2009 Iraqi governorate elections
| country = Iraq
| type = parliamentary
| ongoing = no
| party_colour =
| previous_election = 2005 Iraqi governorate elections
| previous_year = 2005
| next_election = 2013 Iraqi governorate elections
| next_year = 2013
| seats_for_election = 440 seats comprising 14 of the 18 governorates of Iraq
| election_date = 31 January 2009

<!-- State of Law Coalition -->
| image1 = [[File:Nouri al-Maliki with Bush, June 2006, cropped.jpg|90px|Nouri al-Maliki]]
| colour1 = FF0000
| leader1 = {{nowrap|[[Nouri al-Maliki]]}}
| leaders_seat1 =
| party1 = State of Law Coalition
| last_election1 = 42
| seats1 = 126
| seat_change1 ={{increase}}84
| popular_vote1 = 1,362,594
| percentage1 = 19.1%
| swing1 =

<!-- Al-Mehraab Martyr List -->
| image2 = [[File:Abdul Aziz al-Hakim 2004-Jan-20.jpg|100px|Abdul Aziz al-Hakim]]
| colour2 = 009933 
| leader2 = {{nowrap|[[Abdul Aziz al-Hakim]]}}
| leaders_seat2 =
| party2 = Al-Mehraab Martyr List
| last_election2 = 195
| seats2 = 52
| seat_change2 ={{decrease}}143
| popular_vote2 = 482,800
| percentage2 = 6.8%
| swing2 =

<!-- Independent Free Movement -->
| image3 = 
| colour3 = 000000
| leader3 = {{nowrap|[[Muqtada al-Sadr]]}}
| leaders_seat3 =
| party3 = Independent Free Movement
| last_election3 =
| seats3 = 43
| seat_change3 ={{decrease}}17
| popular_vote3 = 434,849
| percentage3 = 6.1%
| swing3 =

<!-- Iraqi Accord Front -->
| image4 = [[File:Tariq Al-Hashimi.jpg|125px|Tariq Al-Hashimi]]
| colour4 = F47C20
| leader4 = {{nowrap|[[Tariq Al-Hashimi]]}}
| leaders_seat4 =
| party4 = Iraqi Accord Front
| last_election4 = 45
| seats4 = 32
| seat_change4 ={{decrease}}13
| popular_vote4 = 449,575
| percentage4 = 6.3%
| swing4 =

<!-- Iraqi National List -->
| image5 = [[File:Allawi8.jpg|102px|Ayad Allawi]]
| colour5 = 098DCD
| leader5 = {{nowrap|[[Ayad Allawi]]}}
| leaders_seat5 =
| party5 = Iraqi National List
| last_election5 = 18
| seats5 = 26
| seat_change5 ={{increase}}8
| popular_vote5 = 404,201
| percentage5 = 5.7%
| swing5 =

<!-- National Reform Trend -->
| image6 = [[File:Ibrahim al-Jaafari.jpg|100px|Ibrahim al-Jaafari]]
| colour6 = FF0000
| leader6 = {{nowrap|[[Ibrahim al-Jaafari]]}}
| leaders_seat6 =
| party6 = National Reform Trend
| last_election6 = 
| seats6 = 23
| seat_change6 ={{increase}}23
| popular_vote6 = 273,130
| percentage6 = 3.8%
| swing6 =

| map_image= 2009_Iraqi_elections.svg
| map_caption=Colours show the largest list per governorate

}}
[[File:Iraqi governorate elections 2008.png|right|thumb|Governorates holding election are green; Kirkuk (blue) and Iraqi Kurdistan (red) postponed their elections for later on the year.]]
{{Politics of Iraq}}

'''Governorate''' or '''provincial elections''' were held in [[Iraq]] on 31 January 2009, to replace the local councils in fourteen of the eighteen [[governorates of Iraq]] that were elected in the [[2005 Iraqi governorate elections]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/09/24/Iraq.main/ |title=Stage being set for Iraqi elections as violence flares |publisher=CNN.com |date=2008-09-24 |accessdate=2022-05-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7718687.stm|title = Date set for Iraq provincial poll|date = 9 November 2008}}</ref> 14,431 candidates, including 3,912 women, contested 440 seats. The candidates came from over 400 parties, 75% of which were newly formed.<ref name=Scotsman>[http://news.scotsman.com/world/From-bullets-to-ballot-box.4901000.jp From bullets to ballot box – Iraq's violence-free election], ''[[The Scotsman]]'', 2009-01-22</ref>

== Legal framework ==
{{further|Government of Iraq from 2006}}

In February 2008, the [[Council of Representatives of Iraq|Iraqi Parliament]] passed a Provincial Powers Act by a majority of one, with many members of parliament not present at the proceedings. It included giving the Prime Minister the power to dismiss a governor of a province, a measure that would have left considerable power in the hands of the [[Shi'a]] dominated central government in [[Baghdad]]. The Act required a Provincial Elections Law to be passed within the next 90 days and for elections to be held no later than the beginning of October 2008.

The [[Presidency Council of Iraq|Presidency Council]] initially referred the law back, saying it did not comply with the constitutional rights of governorates. It was reported that vice President [[Adil Abdul-Mahdi]], whose [[Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council]] party is strong in many southern Iraqi governorate councils, particularly objected.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7267316.stm Iraqi local election law rejected], [[BBC News]], 2008-02-27, accessed on 2008-07-27</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7269241.stm Sadr anger over Iraq law setback], [[BBC News]], 2008-02-28, accessed on 2008-07-27</ref> However, the Council reversed its position following protests from the [[Sadrist Movement]], saying they would instead seek changes to the law before it came into force.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/20/world/middleeast/20iraq.html?hp Iraqi Council Ends Objection to Election Law], ''[[The New York Times]]'', 2008-03-20, accessed on 2008-03-23</ref>

In July 2008 the Iraqi Election Commission proposed postponing the elections until December because delays in passing the election law had left too little time to prepare.<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/20/africa/ME-Iraq-Elections.php Iraq election panel proposes delay in holding provincial voting], ''[[International Herald Tribune]]'', 2008-07-20, accessed on 2008-07-20</ref>

The Provincial Elections bill was eventually approved by the Council of Representatives on 22 July 2008 despite a walkout by members of the [[Kurdistani Alliance]] over a clause making [[Kirkuk Governorate]] council a power-sharing arrangement.<ref name=autogenerated1>[http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/07/22/iraq.main/ Iraq elections law passes, but vote date in doubt], [[CNN]], 2008-07-22, accessed on 2008-07-22</ref> The next day the [[Presidency Council of Iraq]], consisting of [[President of Iraq|President]] [[Jalal Talabani]], who is Kurdish, Vice-President [[Adel Abdul Mahdi]], a [[Shi'ite]] [[Arab]], and Vice-President [[Tariq al-Hashimi]], a [[Sunni]] [[Arab]], unanimously agreed to reject the bill because of the Kirkuk clause, and send it back to the Council of Representatives to reconsider.<ref name=PresVeto>[http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90854/6458604.html Iraq's presidency council vetoes provincial election bill], ''[[People's Daily]]'', 2008-07-24, accessed on 2008-07-27</ref><ref name=UnanVeto>[http://www.aswataliraq.info/look/english/article.tpl?IdLanguage=1&IdPublication=4&NrArticle=87203&NrIssue=2&NrSection=1 SIIC head, Badr Organization discuss elections law]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''Aswat al-iraq'', 2008-07-28, accessed on 2007-07-28</ref>

The second draft was ratified by the Presidency Council on 7 October 2008, who stated that a minority clause may be added later.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rferl.org/content/Iraqs_Presidency_Approves_Provincial_Elections_Law/1293754.html|title = Iraq's Presidency Approves Provincial-Elections Law}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90854/6511083.html|title = Iraqi presidential council approves provincial election law - People's Daily Online}}</ref> A minority clause was added on 3 November.<ref name=BBCMin />

== Kirkuk Governorate ==
{{main|2009 Kirkuk governorate election}}

The original draft proposed delaying the election in Kirkuk Governorate until after the referendum to decide its precise status has been held. However, a group of Turkmen and Arab MPs proposed a power-sharing clause, establishing a provincial council consisting of ten [[Kurd]]s, ten [[Arab]]s, ten [[Iraqi Turkmen|Turkmen]]s and two [[Assyrian people|Assyrian]]s. This clause was included in the draft election bill put to the [[Iraqi Council of Representatives]] in July 2008, and led to the Kurdish parties walking out in protest, complaining "If you already pick the seats before the election, why vote?"<ref name=NYTWhyVote>[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/16/world/middleeast/16baghdad.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin Kurds Protest Iraqi Election Law], ''[[The New York Times]]'', 2008-07-16, accessed on 2008-07-20</ref> The law was nonetheless approved on 22 July 2008.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> However, President [[Jalal Talabani]], who is Kurdish, and Vice-President [[Adel Abdul Mahdi]], a [[Shi'ite]] [[Arab]], have agreed they would reject the bill, and hence it would be sent back to the Council of Representatives to reconsider.<ref name=PresVeto />

Parliamentary summer recess started on 30 July 2008, but a special session was called for 3 August 2008 to find a solution to the Kirkuk issue.<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/30/africa/ME-Iraq-Parliament.php Iraqi Parliament calls session on Kirkuk – International Herald Tribune<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> At that meeting, no solution was reached; at another meeting on 4 August 2008, lawmakers postponed the session to 5 August 2008,<ref>[http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i78a8WhNf9-f4mUhHfd2p1Ker-PQ AFP: Iraqi parliament delays meeting on key voting law<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207205924/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i78a8WhNf9-f4mUhHfd2p1Ker-PQ |date=2009-02-07 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/reuters/2008/08/04/europe/OUKWD-UK-IRAQ.php Iraqis see compromise on Kirkuk standoff – International Herald Tribune<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and on that date to 6 August 2008.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090207235826/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/05/content_8983597.htm Parliament session on election law adjourned as dispute continues over Kirkuk_English_Xinhua<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> It was then postponed to 9 September 2008, with a committee working on a compromise solution until then.<ref name=IHTAug6>[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/08/06/africa/ME-Iraq.php Iraqi Parliament fails to agree on elections law], ''[[International herald Tribune]]'', 2008-08-06, accessed on 2008-08-06</ref> At that session, no resolution was reached, and negotiations continued on 10 September 2008 in the form of a special six-member panel formed for this occasion.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/10/world/middleeast/10iraq.html?ref=middleeast|title=Iraqi Parliament Returns to Tackle Issue of Election Law|newspaper=The New York Times|date=10 September 2008|last1=Robertson|first1=Campbell|last2=Kakan|first2=Atheer}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90854/6497236.html|title = Iraq form panel to resolve dispute over election bill - People's Daily Online}}</ref> The law was finally passed on 24 September 2008 and the election is expected to be held by 31 January 2009;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rferl.org/content/Iraq_Passes_Poll_Law_Vote_Urged_Before_Jan_31/1291232.html|title=Iraq Passes Election Law, Vote Urged Before End of January}}</ref> the compromise was that Kirkuk would be dealt with separately, and elections in Kirkuk and the three Kurdish autonomous provinces will be held at a later time.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7633557.stm|title = Iraq deal over province elections|date = 24 September 2008}}</ref> A special panel was to work on a solution on Kirkuk and report back by 31 March 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/25/africa/25iraq.php |title=Iraq passes provincial elections law - International Herald Tribune |access-date=2008-09-25 |archive-date=2008-09-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080925181311/http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/25/africa/25iraq.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[United Nations]] [[UNAMI|Special Representative for Iraq]], [[Staffan de Mistura]] proposed holding elections in all governorates except Kirkuk, and deferring the Kirkuk elections for six months in order to find an acceptable compromise.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSRYA548090 Iraqi parliament again puts off election vote], ''[[Reuters]]'', 2008-08-05, accessed on 2008-08-05</ref> A draft bill based on this proposal was debated on 6 August and accepted by the [[Kurdistani Alliance]] but opposed by the [[Iraqi Turkmen Front]], [[Iraqi Accord Front]] and [[Sadrist Movement]] who objected to the draft law's reference to the [[Kirkuk status referendum]] and insisted on delaying the entire elections until a solution was found.<ref name=IHTAug6/><ref>[http://www.metimes.com/Politics/2008/08/05/iraq_mps_still_at_odds_over_provincial_elections_law/afp/ Iraq MPs still at odds over provincial elections law] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207150849/http://www.metimes.com/Politics/2008/08/05/iraq_mps_still_at_odds_over_provincial_elections_law/afp/ |date=2009-02-07 }}, ''Middle East Times'', 2008-08-06, accessed on 2008-08-06</ref>

== Minorities ==

Under Article 50 of the draft Elections law, religious minorities such as [[Iraqi Christians|Christians]] and [[Yazidis]] would be reserved a number of seats in the provincial assemblies. This clause was removed in the final draft, with legislators citing a lack of census data for determining the appropriate number of seats. Five thousand Christians demonstrated in Mosul against this change, saying it was a "''marginalisation of their rights''" and the head of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]] wrote to the Presidency Council asking them to veto the law.<ref>[http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1433561.php Thousands of Iraqi Christians protest country's new provincial law], ''Monsters and critics'', 2008-09-28</ref><ref>[http://www.metimes.com/Security/2008/09/29/christians_call_for_representation_in_iraq/4ef0/ Christians call for representation in Iraq] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081003033240/http://www.metimes.com/Security/2008/09/29/christians_call_for_representation_in_iraq/4ef0/ |date=2008-10-03 }}, ''Middle East Times'', 2008-09-30</ref>

Prime Minister al-Maliki said he was concerned and called on parliament and the Iraqi High Electoral Commission to "''remove all the concerns, injustice and the sense of exclusion felt by some segments of Iraqi society''".<ref>[http://www.kansascity.com/news/world/story/818110.html Al-Maliki backs legislative seats for religious minorities in Iraq], ''[[Associated Press]]'', 2008-09-29</ref> Kurdish MP [[Mahmoud Othman]] called on the [[Presidency Council of Iraq]] to use its review process to force an amendment to include a minority quota, saying "''The rule of the majority means there should be protection of the minorities''"<ref name=CSM>[http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0926/p04s01-wome.html Iraq election law marks progress, opens political season], ''[[The Christian Science Monitor]]'', 2008-09-26</ref> A Sadrist leader also said Christians should be allowed to "''contribute to the building of the Iraqi state''" and the removal of this clause "''threatened the unity of Iraq''"<ref>[http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1433945.php/Sadrist_leader_Iraqs_unity_threatened_by_lack_of_minority_quota_ Sadrist leader: Iraq's unity threatened by lack of minority quota], ''Monsters and Critics'', 2008-09-30</ref> The UN Special Envoy also criticised the removal of the minorities clause.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7649196.stm|title = UN criticises Iraqi election law|date = 2 October 2008}}</ref>

A minority clause was added on 3 November 2008, although it only provided for six special seats (three for [[Christians in Iraq|Christians]], one each for [[Yazidi]], [[Mandaeans|Mandean]] and [[Shabak people|Shabak]]) instead of twelve as recommended by the UN.<ref name=BBCMin>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7706781.stm|title = Iraq minorities quota 'an insult'|date = 3 November 2008}}</ref> The Christians got a seat each in Baghdad, Nineveh, and Basra, the Yazidi and Shabak in Nineveh, and the Mandeans in Baghdad.<ref>[http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90854/6526675.html Iraqi parliament approves amendment for provincial election law], ''[[Xinhua]]'', 2008-11-03</ref>

== Female quota ==

Original drafts of the Election law included a guarantee that the elected councils would contain at least 25% women. However, the law passed stated instead that there would be "''a woman at the end of every three winners''". The Electoral Commission has interpreted this to mean that where a list wins more than two seats in a particular governorate, the third seat will be awarded to a woman on the party's list. Given the large number of parties contesting the election, many of whom are expected to win one or two seats, female MPs raised concerns that the change in language has weakened this provision.<ref name=Female>[https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/14/world/middleeast/14iraq.html?_r=1&hp Changes in Iraq Election Law Weaken Quota for Women], ''[[The New York Times]]'', 2009-01-13</ref>

== Electoral system ==

The previous Governorate and national elections in Iraq have been held under a "[[Closed list]]" electoral system, whereby voters select a party or coalition and the party or coalition selects the individual parliamentarian.

The new election will be held under an "[[Open list]]" system, whereby voters may select either a party or an individual candidate; the candidates elected from a list will be those that get the most individual votes from among that list.

The system also promotes the representation of women, for if the top two people elected from a list are men, the subsequent person elected will be the woman with the most votes.<ref>[http://abumuqawama.blogspot.com/2008/09/not-so-open.html not so open], ''abu muqawama'', 2008-09-25</ref>

== Militias ==
In March, the government of [[Nouri al-Maliki]] moved against militias allied to the [[Sadrist Movement]] in [[Basrah Governorate]]. Sadrists accused Maliki of trying to weaken them ahead of the polls, but Maliki claimed he was just targeting "''criminal gangs''".

Following this, Maliki said he would disqualify any parties from the election who refused to disband their militia. In April the cabinet agreed on a draft elections law, which included a clause banning parties with militias.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/middleeastCrisis/idUSL13175660 Iraqi cabinet seeks to ban militias from elections], ''[[Reuters]]'', 2008-04-13, accessed on 2008-04-14</ref> The [[Sadr Movement]] however, still ran in the elections.

== Campaign ==

The security situation in this election was much better than in previous elections. Security was provided by the Iraqi security forces with the [[Multinational force in Iraq]] playing no role for the first time.<ref name=Aus/> Candidates felt safe enough to canvass for votes, while the 2005 elections saw little public campaigning.<ref name=Scotsman/> Nonetheless, eight candidates were killed during the campaign, borders were closed for voting and curfews and vehicle bans were put in place.<ref name=AlJaz>[http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/01/2009129175338701596.html Poll candidates killed in Iraq ], ''[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]]'', 2009-01-30</ref> However, this compared favourably to the 2005 elections when over 200 candidates were killed.<ref name=Aus/>

Early voting took place on Wednesday 28 January for 614,000 soldiers, police, prisoners, patients and internally displaced people.<ref name=AlJaz/>

=== Sunni Arab areas ===
The current Governorate councils were elected in the [[2005 Iraqi governorate elections]], which were boycotted by [[Sunni]] [[Arab]]s, resulting in several Sunni Arab-majority provinces such as [[Nineveh Governorate]] and [[Saladin Governorate]] being run either ethnic Kurdish parties, or multi-ethnic parties of Shia faith. As Sunni Arab parties have since decided to participate in elections, these elections are expected to give them more representation.

The elections are also expected to develop electoral competition within the Sunni Arab population between the pro-government [[Iraqi Accord Front]] and the new political groups formed out of the anti-al-Qaeda [[Awakening movements in Iraq|Awakening movement]] militias. A leading member of the Awakening movement in [[Baghdad]], [[Abu Azzam]] al-Tamimi, has formed the [[Iraqi Dignity Front]] to contest the elections. The Awakening movement in Anbar has formed the [[National Front for the Salvation of Iraq]]. These parties are expected to sweep the Sunni Arab vote in [[Al Anbar Governorate|Anbar]], [[Salah ad Din Governorate|Salahuddin]], [[Diyala Governorate|Diyala]], and [[Baghdad]].<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/renewed-civil-war-in-iraq/ Renewed Civil War In Iraq?], [[CBS News]], 2008-10-01</ref>

In Ninawa, the Sunni Arab-majority [[al-Hadba]] party—which is also backed by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/28/world/middleeast/28mosul.html?fta=y&pagewanted=all Fractures in Iraq City as Kurds and Baghdad Vie], ''[[The New York Times]]'', 2008-10-27</ref>—complained of being targeted by Kurdish security forces. A candidate for the Sunni Arab "Iraq for Us" coalition in Ninawa was killed by a gunman who walked into a café and shot him.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090207155940/http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKTRE50136P20090102?sp=true Election friction flares in Iraq's violent north], [[Reuters]], 2009-01-02</ref>

=== Shiite Arab areas ===
One senior government official said the elections would "redraw the political map of Iraq" while Vice President [[Adel Abdul Mahdi]] described them as a "major rehearsal for the parliamentary elections" due in 2009–2010. An expert from the [[International Crisis Group]] predicted a "big shift", with the existing parties established by exiles losing ground to more recently formed parties of people who stayed in Iraq during the rule of [[Saddam Hussein]].<ref name=Reshape>[https://www.reuters.com/article/newsMaps/idUSKAR97823220080410 Iraq's local elections could reshape power structure], [[Reuters]], 2008-04-10, accessed on 2008-04-14</ref>

There is also expected to be significant electoral competition between two main Shiite Islamist parties in the government—the [[Islamic Dawa Party]] of Prime Minister [[Nouri al-Maliki]] and the [[Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council]] of Vice-President [[Adil Abdul-Mahdi]]. Following the [[Battle of Basra (2008)]], the Prime Minister created "support councils" to help with security in the southern provinces and Maliki was accused of using these support councils to build a political base. The Presidency Council of Iraq publicly criticised the Prime Minister in November 2008, saying these support councils were illegal, should be suspended and the money used to support the regular Army and Police.<ref>[http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=183204 Iraq's Prime Minister, President in public quarrel], ''[[Tehran Times]]'', 2008-11-24</ref>

Competition is also expected between the government Islamist parties and the opposition [[Sadrist Movement]], with some commentators saying Sadrists were expected to win a majority of seats in southern Iraq and parts of Baghdad.<ref>[http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/02/inside_iraqi_politic_4.php Inside Iraqi politics – Part 5. A look at legislative progress: Sunnis’ and states’ rights], ''Long War Journal'', 2008-02-28</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090207152104/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1814674,00.html?iid=sphere-inline-sidebar Sadr launches his election campaign], ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'', 2008-06-14, accessed on 2008-12-02</ref> The Sadrist Movement supported the [[Blamelessness and Reconstruction]] (376) list and the [[Independent Trend of the Noble Ones]] (284)<ref>[http://www.historiae.org/notebook.asp The Sadrist Parliamentary Bloc Confirms Its Support of Two Electoral Lists], ''Historiae'', 2009-01-11</ref>

Some commentators predicted there would be a backlash against the incumbent religious parties in favour of more secular parties.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090207173306/http://uk.reuters.com/article/usTopNews/idUKTRE50L07120090122?sp=true Iraq religious parties may face election backlash], [[Reuters]], 2009-01-22</ref>

Shortly before the election, an initiative was started in [[Basra Province]] to convert the province into a [[Regions of Iraq|Region]]. The initiative failed to reach 10% of eligible voters in the specified period, meaning it fell.<ref>[http://www.rferl.org/content/Autonomy_Referendum_For_Iraqs_South_Struck_Down/1372452.html Autonomy Referendum For Iraq's South Struck Down], [[Radio Liberty]], 2009-01-20</ref>

==Results==
[[File:2009 Iraqi elections.svg|450px|thumb|right|Election map showing the largest list per [[governorates of Iraq|governorate]]]]

There were 15 million eligible voters, but hundreds of thousands of voters were omitted from the ballot lists. [[Mithal al-Alusi]], an Arab nationalist MP, complained that there were "many mistakes" by the Commission and Iranian diplomats had been allowed entry to polling stations.<ref name="Iranians">[http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/02/20092222926514297.html Al-Maliki allies ahead in Iraq vote], [[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]], 2009-02-04</ref>

There were international observers in every one of the 712 constituencies—the first election since the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]] to be fully observed.<ref name=Aus>[https://archive.today/20121215202900/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25018547-15084,00.html Hopes surge with Iraq ballot], ''[[The Australian]]'', 2009-02-07</ref>

Unlike the 2005 election, there was no boycott by any significant political movement;<ref name=Aus/> however, turnout was down on the previous election at slightly over 51%. ISCI blamed the election day vehicle ban, which meant voters often had to walk long distances to the polling centres.<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/02/02/mideast/iraq.4-421569.php Iraqi Shiite party denies setback in regional vote], ''[[International Herald Tribune]]'', 2009-02-02</ref>

Official results were not expected until days after the election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rferl.org/content/Turnout_Over_50_Percent_For_Iraqi_Poll/1377482.html|title = Turnout over 50 Percent for Iraqi Poll}}</ref> The [[Islamic Dawa Party]] turned as largest party in Shi'a south.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ihec.iq/English/press_releases.aspx#525 |title=IHEC - Press Releases |access-date=2009-03-04 |archive-date=2009-02-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221155631/http://ihec.iq/English/press_releases.aspx#525 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>http://www.metimes.com/Security/2009/02/05/iraqi_election_results_are_in/d9a6/{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===Total seats===
{{unreferenced section|date=October 2019}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background:#f8f8f8; padding:0; font-size:90%;"
|- style="background:#e9e9e9;"
! colspan=2|Party
!Total votes
!Percentage
!Total seats
!Party leader
|-
| style="background:#f00;"|
|[[State of Law Coalition]] ||1,362,594||19.1%||126||[[Nouri al-Maliki]]
|-
| style="background:#093;"|
|[[al-Mehraab Martyr List]]||482,800||6.8%||52||[[Abdul Aziz al-Hakim]]
|-
| style="background:#000;"|
|[[Sadr Movement|Independent Free Movement]]||434,849||6.1%||43||[[Muqtada al-Sadr]]
|-
| style="background:#f47c20;"|
|[[Iraqi Accord Front]]||449,575||6.3%||32||[[Tariq al-Hashemi]]
|-
| style="background:#098dcd;"|
|[[Iraqi National List]]||404,201||5.7%||26||[[Ayad Allawi]]
|-
| style="background:#f00;"|
|[[National Reform Trend]]||273,130||3.8%||23||[[Ibrahim al-Jaafari]]
|-
| style="background:#cf3;"|
|[[Kurdistani List|Brotherhood List]]||353,328||5.0%||20||[[Massoud Barzani|Barzani]], [[Jalal Talebani|Talabani]]
|-
| style="background:#256c5a;"|
|[[Iraqi National Dialogue Front|National Iraqi Project Gathering]]||328,250||4.6%||19||[[Saleh al-Mutlaq]]
|-
| style="background:#9f9679;"|
|[[Al-Hadbaa National List]]||435,595||6.1%||19||[[Atheel al-Nujaifi]]
|-
| style="background:#981c24;"|
|[[Iraq Awakening and Independents National Alliance|Awakening Council]]||56,262||0.8%||8||[[Ahmed Abu Risha|Abu Risha]]
|-
| style="background:#06f;"|
|[[Islamic Virtue Party]]||140,648||2.0%||6||[[Abd al-Rahim al-Hasini|Abdul al-Huseini]]
|-
!colspan=2|Other Parties||2,422,424||33.7%||66||-
|-
!colspan=2|'''Total'''||'''7,143,656'''||'''100%'''||'''440'''||-
|}

'''Provincial turnout'''
{| class="wikitable" style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background:#f8f8f8; padding:0; font-size:90%;"
|-
!Governorate
!Votes cast
!Seats
|-
|[[al-Anbar Governorate|Anbar]] || 317,074 || 29
|-
|[[Babil Governorate|Babil]] || 487,858 || 30
|-
|[[Baghdad Governorate|Baghdad]] || 1,694,930|| 57
|-
|[[Basra Governorate|Basra]] || 646,109 ||35
|-
|[[Dhi Qar Governorate|Dhi Qar]] || 453,806||31
|-
|[[Diyala Governorate|Diyala]] || 430,407||29
|-
|[[Karbala Governorate|Karbala]] ||291,479||27
|-
|[[Maysan Governorate|Maysan]] ||234,398||27
|-
|[[al-Muthanna Governorate|Muthanna]] ||207,752||26
|-
|[[Najaf Governorate|Najaf]] || 338,540||28
|-
|[[Nineveh Governorate|Nineveh]] || 995,169||37
|-
|[[al-Qadisiyyah Governorate|Qadisiyyah]] ||332,176||28
|-
|[[Saladin Governorate|Saladin]] ||403,764||28
|-
|[[Wasit Governorate|Wasit]] ||310,194||28
|-
||'''Total:''' || 7,143,656||440
|}

===[[Al Anbar Governorate]]===
{{main|2009 Al Anbar governorate election}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background:#f8f8f8; padding:0; font-size:90%;"
|- style="background:#e9e9e9;"
! colspan=2|Party
!Total votes
!Percentage
!Seats
!Party leader
|-
| style="background:#981c24;"|
|[[Iraq Awakening and Independents National Alliance]] (Sahwa)||56,262|| 17.1% ||8||[[Ahmed Abu Risha|Abu Risha]]
|-
| style="background:#00009f;"|
|[[Iraqi National Dialogue Front|National Iraqi Project Gathering]]||53,487||17.6%||6||[[Saleh al-Mutlaq]]
|-
| style="background:#00295f;"|
|[[Tribes and Educated Coalition for Development]]||51,733||15.9%||6||[[Tariq al-Hashemi]]
|-
| style="background:#73337d;"|
|[[National Movement for Development and Reform]] (al-Hal)||23,835||7.8%||3||[[Jamal al-Karbuli]]
|-
| style="background:#098dcd;"|
|[[Iraqi National List]]||21,551||6.6%||2||[[Ayad Allawi]]
|-
| style="background:#004179;"|
|[[Coalition for Iraqi National Unity]]||14,439||4.6%||2||[[Mohammed al-Kasanzani]]
|-
| style="background:#dd2221;"|
|[[Tribes of Iraq Coalition]]||13,798||4.5%||2||[[Hamid al-Hais]]
|-
!colspan=2|Other parties||-||25.9%||0||
|-
!colspan=2|'''Total'''||317,074||'''100%'''||'''29'''||
|}

===[[Babil Governorate]]===
{{main|2009 Babil governorate election}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background:#f8f8f8; padding:0; font-size:90%;"
|- style="background:#e9e9e9;"
! colspan=2|Party
!Total votes
!Percentage
!Seats
!Party leader
|-
| style="background:#f00;"|
|[[State of Law Coalition]] ||60,914|| 12.5% ||8||[[Nouri al-Maliki]]
|-
| style="background:#093;"|
|[[al-Mehraab Martyr List]]||40,365||8.2%||5||[[Abdul Aziz al-Hakim]]
|-
| style="background:#000;"|
|[[Sadr Movement|Independent Free Movement]]||30,119||6.2%||3||[[Muqtada al-Sadr]]
|-
| style="background:#f00;"|
|[[National Reform Trend]]||21,055||4.4%||3||[[Ibrahim al-Jaafari]]
|-
| style="background:#00009f;"|
|[[Iraqi National Dialogue Front|Iraqi Commission for Independent Civil Society Organizations]]||19,875||4.1%||3||[[Saleh al-Mutlaq]]
|-
|
|[[Independent Justice Association]]||17,683||3.7%||3||
|-
| style="background:#098dcd;"|
|[[Iraqi National List]]||17,017||3.4%||3||[[Ayad Allawi]]
|-
|
|[[Independent Ansar Bloc]]||16,493||3.4%||2||
|-
!colspan=2|Other parties||-||54.1%||0||
|-
!colspan=2|'''Total'''||487,858||'''100%'''||'''30'''||
|}

===[[Baghdad Governorate]]===
{{main|2009 Baghdad governorate election}}
{| class="wikitable" style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background:#f8f8f8; padding:0; font-size:90%;"
|-
!Party
!Total votes
!Percentage
!Seats
!Party leader
|-
|[[State of Law Coalition]] ||641,925|| 38.0% ||28||[[Nouri al-Maliki]]
|-
|[[Iraqi Accord Front|National Accordance Front]] (Tawafuq)||153,219||9.0%||7||[[Tariq al-Hashimi]]
|-
|[[Sadr Movement|Independent Free Movement]]||151,093||9.0%||5||[[Muqtada al-Sadr]]
|-
|[[Iraqi National List]]||148,133||8.6%||5||[[Ayad Allawi]]
|-
|[[Iraqi National Dialogue Front|National Iraqi Project Gathering]]||113,787||6.9%||4||[[Saleh al-Mutlaq]]
|-
|[[al-Mehraab Martyr List]] [[SCIRI|(ISCI)]]||91,759||5.4%||3||[[Abdul Aziz al-Hakim]]
|-
|[[National Reform Trend]]||71,663||4.3%||3||[[Ibrahim al-Jaafari]]
|-
|Other parties||-||18.8%||0||
|-
|'''Minority Seats:'''
|-
|[[Christians|Christian Seat:]] [[Ishtar Patriotic List]] ||4,334 || ||1|| [[Sarkis Aghajan]]
|-
|[[Mandaeans|Sabean-Mandean Seat:]] [[Independent politician|Independent]] ||241 || || 1 || [[Ali Hussein Zahroun Al-Saberi|Ali Hussein al-Saberi]]
|-
| '''Total'''||1,694,930||'''100%'''||'''57''' ||
|}

source: IHEC [https://web.archive.org/web/20220206201003/http://www.ihec-iq.com/ftpar/provinces2009/result/bagdad.pdf]

===[[Basra Governorate]]===
{{main|2009 Basra governorate election}}
{| class="wikitable" style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background:#f8f8f8; padding:0; font-size:90%;"
|-
!Party
!Total votes
!Percentage
!Seats
!Party leader
|-
|[[State of Law Coalition]] ||239,007|| 37.0%||20||[[Nouri al-Maliki]]
|-
|[[al-Mehraab Martyr List]] (ISCI)||74,879||11.6%||5||[[Abdul Aziz al-Hakim]]
|-
|[[Gathering of Justice and Unity]]||34,862||5.5%||2||al-Faiz
|-
|[[Sadr Movement|Independent Free Movement]] (Sadrist)||32,020||5.0%||2||[[Muqtada al-Sadr]]
|-
|[[Iraqi Islamic Party]]||24,813||3.8%||2||[[Tariq al-Hashimi]]
|-
|[[Iraqi National List]]||21,091||3.2%||2||[[Ayad Allawi]]
|-
|[[Islamic Virtue Party]] (Fadhila)||20,932||3.2%||1||[[Abd al-Rahim al-Hasini|Abdul al-Hasini]]
|-
|Other parties||-||30.7%||0||
|-
|[[Christians|Christian Seat:]] [[Chaldean Democratic Union Party]] ||227||-||1||[[Ablahad Afraim Sawa]]
|-
|'''Total'''||646,109||'''100%'''||'''35'''||
|}

===[[Dhi Qar Governorate]]===
{{main|2009 Dhi Qar governorate election}}
{| class="wikitable" style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background:#f8f8f8; padding:0; font-size:90%;"
|-
!Party
!Total votes
!Percentage
!Seats
!Party leader
|-
|[[State of Law Coalition]] ||107,410|| 23.1%||13||[[Nouri al-Maliki]]
|-
|[[Sadr Movement|Independent Free Movement]]||61,929||14.1%||7||[[Muqtada al-Sadr]]
|-
|[[al-Mehraab Martyr List]] (ISCI)||51,463||11.1%||5||[[Abdul Aziz al-Hakim]]
|-
|[[National Reform Trend]]||34,255||7.6%||4||[[Ibrahim al-Jaafari]]
|-
|[[Islamic Virtue Party]] (Fadhila)||27,138||6.1%||2||[[Abd al-Rahim al-Hasini|Abdul al-Hasini]]
|-
|Other parties||-||48%||0||
|-
|'''Total'''||453,806||'''100%'''||'''31'''||
|}

===[[Diyala Governorate]]===
{{main|2009 Diyala governorate election}}
{| class="wikitable" style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background:#f8f8f8; padding:0; font-size:90%;"
|-
!Party
!Total votes
!Percentage
!Seats
!Party leader
|-
|[[Iraqi Accord Front|United Accord and Reform Front in Diyala]] (Tawafuq) ||91,135|| 21.1%||9||[[Tariq al-Hashemi]]
|-
|[[Iraqi National Dialogue Front|National Iraqi Project Gathering]]||66,309||17.0%||6||[[Saleh al-Mutlaq]]
|-
|[[Kurdistani List|Kurdistan Alliance]]||62,219||15.0%||6||[[Massoud Barzani]], [[Jalal Talabani]]
|-
|[[Iraqi National List]]||42,650||9.5%||3||[[Ayad Allawi]]
|-
|[[State of Law Coalition]]||27,408||6.0%||2||[[Nouri al-Maliki]]
|-
|[[Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq|National Diyala Alliance]]||25,068||5.3%||2||Abdul Aziz al-Hakim
|-
|[[National Reform Trend]]||20,140||4.3%||1||[[Ibrahim al-Jaafari]]
|-
|Other parties||-||21.6%||0||
|-
|'''Total'''||430,407||'''100%'''||'''29'''||
|}

===[[Karbala Governorate]]===
{{main|2009 Karbala governorate election}}
{| class="wikitable" style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background:#f8f8f8; padding:0; font-size:90%;"
|-
!Party
!Total votes
!Percentage
!Seats
!Party leader
|-
|[[Youssef Mohammed al-Haboubi]]||37,846 || 13.3% ||1||Independent
|-
|[[Hope of Al-Refedein]]||26,967 ||8.8%||9||(Sadrist Affiliated)
|-
|[[State of Law Coalition]]||25,649 ||8.5%||9||[[Nouri al-Maliki]]
|-
|[[al-Mehrab Martyr List]] (ISCI)||19,346 ||6.8%||4||[[Abdul Aziz al-Hakim]]
|-
|[[Sadr Movement|Independent Free Movement]] || 19,215 ||6.4%||4||[[Muqtada al-Sadr]]
|-
|Other parties|| ||56.2%||0||
|-
|'''Total'''||291,479||'''100%'''||'''27'''||
|}

Note: While Youssef al-Haboubi got the most votes, he stood as independent candidate, thus only winning one seat for himself.

===[[Maysan Governorate]]===
{{main|2009 Maysan governorate election}}
{| class="wikitable" style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background:#f8f8f8; padding:0; font-size:90%;"
|-
!Party
!Total votes
!Percentage
!Seats
!Party leader
|-
|[[State of Law Coalition]]||42,214 || 17.7% ||8||[[Nouri al-Maliki]]
|-
|[[al-Mehraab Martyr List]] (ISCI)|| 35,093 ||15.2%||8||[[Abdul Aziz al-Hakim]]
|-
|[[Sadr Movement|Independent Free Movement]]||35,075 ||14.6%||7||[[Muqtada al-Sadr]]
|-
|[[National Reform Trend]] ||20,144 ||8.7%||4||[[Ibrahim al-Jaafari]]
|-
|Other parties|| ||43.8%||0||
|-
|'''Total'''||234,398 ||'''100%'''||'''27'''||
|}

===[[Muthanna Governorate]]===
{{main|2009 Al Muthanna governorate election}}
{| class="wikitable" style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background:#f8f8f8; padding:0; font-size:90%;"
|-
!Party
!Total votes
!Percentage
!Seats
!Party leader
|-
|[[State of Law Coalition]]|| 22,627|| 10.9% ||5||[[Nouri al-Maliki]]
|-
|[[al-Mehraab Martyr List]] (ISCI)||19,448 ||9.3%||5||[[Abdul Aziz al-Hakim]]
|-
|[[Al-Jumhoor List]]||14,520 ||7.1%||3||
|-
|[[National Reform Trend]] || 12,878||6.3%||3||[[Ibrahim al-Jaafari]]
|-
|[[Sadr Movement|Independent Free Movement]]||11,436 || - ||2||[[Muqtada al-Sadr]]
|-
|[[Gathering for Muthanna]]||10,867 ||5.0%||2||
|-
|[[Independent National List]]||9,854 ||4.9%||2||
|-
|[[Independent Iraqi Skills Gathering]]||8,941 ||4.4%||2||
|-
|[[Middle Euphrates Gathering]]||8,322 ||3.9%||2||
|-
|Other parties|| ||42.7%||0||
|-
|'''Total'''|| 207,752||'''100%'''||'''26'''||
|}

===[[Najaf Governorate]]===
{{main|2009 Najaf governorate election}}
{| class="wikitable" style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background:#f8f8f8; padding:0; font-size:90%;"
|-
!Party
!Total votes
!Percentage
!Seats
!Party leader
|-
|[[State of Law Coalition]]|| 54,907|| 16.2% ||7||[[Nouri al-Maliki]]
|-
|[[al-Mehraab Martyr List]] (ISCI)||50,146 ||14.8%||7||[[Abdul Aziz al-Hakim]]
|-
|[[Sadr Movement|Independent Free Movement]]||40,186 ||12.2%||6||[[Muqtada al-Sadr]]
|-
|[[Loyalty for Najaf]]|| 30,219||8.3%||4||[[Adnan al-Zurufi]]
|-
|[[National Reform Trend]] ||23,377 ||7.0%||2||[[Ibrahim al-Jaafari]]
|-
|[[Independent Najaf Union]]||12,766 ||3.7%||2||
|-
|Other parties|| ||37.8%||0||
|-
|'''Total'''||338,540 ||'''100%'''||'''28'''||
|}

===[[Nineveh Governorate]]===
{{main|2009 Nineveh governorate election}}
{| class="wikitable" style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background:#f8f8f8; padding:0; font-size:90%;"
|-
!Party
!Total votes
!Percentage
!Seats
!Party leader
|-
|[[Al-Hadbaa National List]]||435,595 || 48.4% ||19||[[Atheel al-Nujaifi]]
|-
|[[Democratic Patriotic Alliance of Kurdistan|Brotherhood Ninawa]]||273,458 ||25.5%||12||[[Massoud Barzani]], [[Jalal Talebani]]
|-
|[[Iraqi Islamic Party]]||60,191 ||6.7%||3||[[Tariq al-Hashemi]]
|-
|Other parties|| ||19.4%||0||
|-
|'''Minority seats'''
|-
|[[Christians|Christian]] Seat: [[Ishtar Patriotic List]] ||13,760 || || 1 ||[[Sarkis Aghajan]]
|-
|[[Shabaki]] Seat: [[Qussai Abbas Mohammed]] || 12,949 ||  || 1 || Independent
|-
|[[Yezidi]] Seat: [[Yazidi Movement for Reform and Progress]] ||6,174  ||  || 1 || 
|-
|'''Total'''|| 995,169||'''100%'''||'''37'''||
|}

===[[Al-Qādisiyyah Governorate]]===
{{main|2009 Al-Qādisiyyah governorate election}}
{| class="wikitable" style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background:#f8f8f8; padding:0; font-size:90%;"
|-
!Party
!Total votes
!Percentage
!Seats
!Party leader
|-
|[[State of Law Coalition]]|| 78,276|| 23.1% ||11||[[Nouri al-Maliki]]
|-
|[[al-Mehrab Martyr List]] (ISCI)|| 38,972||11.7%||4||[[Abdul Aziz al-Hakim]]
|-
|[[Iraqi National List]]|| 27,687||8.2%||3||[[Ayad Allawi]]
|-
|[[National Reform Trend]]|| 26,738||8.0%||3||[[Ibrahim al-Jaafari]]
|-
|[[Sadr Movement|Independent Free Movement]]||21,742 ||6.7%||2||[[Muqtada al Sadr]]
|-
|[[Islamic Loyalty Party]]||14,054 ||4.3%||2||(Sadrist Affiliated)
|-
|[[Islamic Virtue Party]] ||13,596|| 4.1%||2||[[Abd al-Rahim al-Hasini|Abdul al-Hasini]]
|-
|Other parties|| ||33.9%||0||
|-
|'''Total'''|| 332,176||'''100%'''||'''28'''||
|}

===[[Saladin Governorate]]===
{{main|2009 Saladin governorate election}}
{| class="wikitable" style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background:#f8f8f8; padding:0; font-size:90%;"
|-
!colspan=2|Party
!Total votes
!Percentage
!Seats
!Party leader
|-
| style="background:#f47c20;"|
|[[Iraqi Accord Front|Salahuddin Accordance Front]] (Tawafiq) || 57,264|| 14.5% ||5||[[Tariq al-Hashemi]]
|-
| style="background:#098dcd;"|
|[[Iraqi National List]]||56,853 ||13.9%||5||[[Ayad Allawi]]
|-
|
|[[National Iraqi Project Front]] (Groups)||35,482 ||8.7%||3||
|-
| style="background:#00009f;"|
|[[Iraqi National Dialogue Front|National Iraqi Project Gathering]]|| 35,131||8.5%||3||[[Saleh al-Mutlaq]]
|-
|
|[[Iraqi Scholars and Intellectuals Group]]|| 23,772||6.0%||2||
|-
| style="background:#0cf;"|
|[[Iraqi Turkoman Front]]||19,013 ||4.8%||2||[[Saadeddin Arkej]]
|-
| style="background:#000;"|
|[[Reconciliation and Liberation Bloc|Liberation and Construction Front]] ||18,743 ||4.5%||2||
|-
|
|[[National Salah ad-Din List]] ||18,079 ||4.6%||2||
|-
| style="background:#cf3;"|
|[[Democratic Patriotic Alliance of Kurdistan|Fraternity and Peaceful Coexistence List]] ||17,651 ||4.5%||2||[[Massoud Barzani]], [[Jalal Talebani]]
|-
| style="background:#f00;"|
|[[State of Law Coalition]] ||14,422 ||3.5%||2||[[Nouri al-Maliki]]
|-
|colspan=2|Other parties|| ||21%||0||
|-
|colspan=2|'''Total'''||403,764 ||'''100%'''||'''28'''||
|}

===[[Wasit Governorate]]===
{{main|2009 Wasit governorate election}}
{| class="wikitable" style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background:#f8f8f8; padding:0; font-size:90%;"
|-
!Party
!Total votes
!Percentage
!Seats
!Party leader
|-
|[[State of Law Coalition]] ||47,835 || 15.3% ||13||[[Nouri al-Maliki]]
|-
|[[al-Mehrab Martyr List]] (ISCI) ||30,712 || 10.0% ||6||[[Abdul Aziz al-Hakim]]
|-
|[[Sadr Movement|Independent Free Movement]] ||18,261 || 6.0% ||3||[[Muqtada al-Sadr]]
|-
|[[Iraqi National List]] || 14,596|| 4.6% ||3||[[Ayad Allawi]]
|-
|[[Iraqi Constitutional Party]] ||12,235 || 3.9% ||3||[[Jawad al-Bulani]]
|-
|Other parties|| ||60.2%||0||
|-
|'''Total'''||310,194 ||'''100%'''||'''28'''||
|}

== Coalitions ==
After the elections, the [[National Reform Trend]] said it has formed an agreement with the [[State of Law Coalition]] to ally in all provinces where they had won seats.<ref>[http://www.ninanews.com/Elections/English/News_Details.asp?ar95_VQ=FDGH Fayadh declares plan to ally with SLC] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004110307/http://www.ninanews.com/Elections/English/News_Details.asp?ar95_VQ=FDGH |date=2011-10-04}}, [[National Iraqi News Agency]], 2009-03-04</ref>

In '''Al Anbar''', [[Qasim Al-Fahdawi]], an independent from the Sahwa list was elected governor, he formed an administration with all parties in Anbar (most important being his own Sahwa list and al-Mutlaq's NIPG), except the Iraqi Islamic Party, which previously ruled the local government.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-may-04-fg-iraq-anbar4-story.html|title = Archives|website = [[Los Angeles Times]]| date=4 May 2009 }}</ref>

In '''Diyala''' the winning Iraqi Accord Front joined into a coalition with the Kurdistan Alliance, together holding a 15-seat majority out of the governorates 29 seats, they were also backed by the National Diyala Alliance, an ISCI affiliated list which held 2 seats.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.aswataliraq.info/?p=108703 |title = Aswat Al Iraq  |access-date=2010-03-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721185533/http://en.aswataliraq.info/?p=108703 |archive-date=2011-07-21 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Accord Front member Abdulnasir al-Muntasirbillah was elected as governor while Taleb Mohammed Hassan from the Kurdistan Alliance was made chairman of the provincial council.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.aswataliraq.info/?p=111408 |title = Aswat Al Iraq  |access-date=2010-03-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721185607/http://en.aswataliraq.info/?p=111408 |archive-date=2011-07-21 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In '''Saladin''', where Tawafuq also came out first they tied in number of seats with the Iraqi National List, which forged an alliance with State of Law and the National Iraqi Project Gathering,<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/19/AR2009031902885_2.html| title = New Alliances In Iraq Cross Sectarian Lines| newspaper = [[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> they were however eventually forced to include Tawafuq into this alliance in order to get a majority. Tawafuq member [[Mutashar al-Aliwi]] became governor while an INL member became chairman.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.epic-usa.org/node/5593 |title = Governors, Heads of Councils, and Ruling Coalitions In Iraq's Provinces {{!}} EPIC  |access-date=2010-03-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100407175410/http://www.epic-usa.org/node/5593 |archive-date=2010-04-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In '''Muthanna''' were State of Law and ISCI's al-Mehraab list each won 5 seats both parties created their own alliance forming blocs of 13 seats. State of Law formed a Coalition with the National Reform Trend (3 seats), Sadrists (2 seats) and the Middle Euphrates Gathering (2 seats) while ISCI created an alliance within the al-Jumhur List (3 seats), the Gathering for Muthanna (2 seats), and the Independent National List (2 seats). The Independent Iraqi Skills Gathering which had 2 seats was split between these two blocs. However [[Ibrahim Salman al-Miyali]], an independent which ran as part of the State of Law Coalition left and joined ISCI's block because Maliki hadn't nominated him for any important position. This gave the ISCI block a 14-seat majority and led to his election as governor and ISCI member [[Abd al-Latif Hassan al-Hassani]] being elected as chairman.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kirksowell.com/Content/Documents/How%20Muthanna%20was%20Won.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-03-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713153241/http://www.kirksowell.com/Content/Documents/How%20Muthanna%20was%20Won.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In '''Maysan''' and '''Wasit''', the State of Law Coalition formed a coalition with ISCI. Though in most governorates State of Law tried to leave ISCI out of local governments in Maysan where they won an equal amounth of seats they decided to align with them electing [[Muhammad al-Sudani]] of the Dawa Party as governor and [[Hashim al-Shawki]] of the [[Iraqi Hezbollah]] (which was part of ISCI's List) as chairman. In Wasit, State of Law first tried to create an alliance with the Sadrists but after this broke down, they formed an alliance with ISCI. Sadrist governor [[Latif Hamid Turfa]] was re-elected as governor and ISCI's [[Mahmoud Abdulrida Talal]] was made chairman.<ref name="coalitions">[http://www.understandingwar.org/files/Backgrounder_41.pdf Provincial Governments in Southern Iraq]</ref>

In '''Basra''', State of Law's clear cut majority allowed them to form an administration on their own, appointing [[Jabbar Amin]], as chairman and Dr. [[Sheltagh Aboud Sherad]] as governor, both were members of the Da'wa party (although Jabbar Amin belongs to the [[Islamic Dawa Party – Iraq Organisation|Iraq Organisation]] branch).<ref name="coalitions" /> However, despite their 20-seat majority in the 35-seat council, they reached out to other parties including all other parties which won seats in the Basra local council in a local unity government.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.niqash.org/content.php?contentTypeID=75&id=2410&lang=0 |title = Iraq Politics and Constitution - سياسة العراق و الدستور العراقي  |access-date=2010-03-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719054145/http://www.niqash.org/content.php?contentTypeID=75&id=2410&lang=0 |archive-date=2011-07-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In the remaining five Shi'a governorates, State of Law succeeded in creating coalitions without ISCI. In '''Babil''' State of Law created a broad coalition with the Sadrists, the National Reform Trend, the Iraqi National List, al-Mutlaq's bloc and local parties, ISCI forming a 7-seat opposition bloc with the 2 man Independent Ansar Bloc. To create this alliance however, State of Law gave [[Hasan al-Zarqani]] and [[Kadum Majid Tuman]], two Sadrists, the positions of governor and chairman. In '''Dhi Qar''' State of Law aligned itself with the Sadrists and the National Reform Trend, creating a 24-seat majority in the 31-seat council, ISCI and Fadhila being left out. A Dawa member: [[Taleb al-Hassan]] was appointed governor and NRT member [[Qusai al-Ibadi]] became chairman. In '''Karbala''', the only Shi'a province were SOL did not come out first place, they aligned themselves with [[Youssef Mohammed al-Haboubi|al-Haboubi]] an independent which won the most votes, the second place [[Hope of Al-Refedein]] and the Independent Free Movement, two Sadrist blocs which together took 13 seats, only ISCI's 4-seat bloc was left out of the local government. [[Amaleddin Majeed Hameed Kadhem]] of the Dawa party became governor while [[Mohammed Hamid al-Musawi]], a Sadrist was elected chairman. In '''Najaf''', SOL and ISCI tied with 7 seats each however SOL managed to create a 15-seat majority bloc with the NRT and two local parties, leaving the Sadrists and ISCI in the opposition. SOL member [[Fayad al-Shamari]] was appointed chairman and despite strong opposition, [[Adnan al-Zurfi]] from one of the local parties became the new governor, prompting [[Asaad Abu Gulal]] the former ISCI governor to start a legal battle against al-Zurfi. In '''al-Qadisiyah''' SOL formed a bloc with the Iraqi National List, leaving ISCI, Fadhila and the Sadrists in the opposition. Da'awa members [[Salim Hussein]] and [[Jubeir al-Juburi]] were appointed governor and chairman.<ref name="coalitions" />

== Fraud allegations ==
Allegations of election fraud came from both Sunni and Shi'a political parties. The most complaints came from [[Ayad Allawi]]'s [[al-Iraqiya list]] which claimed election fraud had taken place, mostly in Baghdad, Salahaddin and al-Anbar, a spokesman of the group: [[Ali Nesaif]] claimed that "Some boxes were stolen from polling centers in Salahaddin as well as Diyala," while [[Kadhim Turki]] another Allawi ally said that they were not satisfied with the final results—particularly in Baghdad and Basra." They accused the counties powerful parties of vote rigging.<ref name="fraud">[http://www.alternet.org/world/129577/mounting_accusations_of_voter_fraud_in_iraq's_elections/ Mounting Accusations of Voter Fraud in Iraq's Elections]</ref>

The [[Sadr Movement]] also complained about the election results, [[Amir Tahar al-Kinani]] a Sadrist spokesman released the following statement: "We have been mistreated in this election. IHEC was not fair—it was biased in favor of other lists, in the final results, we dropped to third position, while SIIC took second place. How can that happen? Our bloc and SIIC won an approximately equal number of votes in Maysan—yet we only got seven seats, while they got eight." Kinani also said their votes in Baghdad suspiciously dropped after the final results came in and he accused the Independent High Electoral Commission of making late changes to the law which benefited Maliki.<ref name="fraud" /> He also claimed that: "There are huge differences between results announced by the electoral commission and the figures we have from our observers in some provinces."<ref>[http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=859457&lang=eng_news&cate_img=83.jpg&cate_rss=news_Politics Al-Sadr candidates appeal Iraq election results]</ref>

The [[Sons of Iraq|Iraq Awakening Coalition]] alleged election fraud in al-Anbar province claiming they had hundreds of documents to prove the fraud. [[Vice President of Iraq|Iraqi Vice President]] [[Tariq al-Hashimi]] called for a vote recount in al-Anbar.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7871938.stm Vote fraud claims in Iraq ballot]</ref>

Meanwhile, radical [[Arab Nationalist]] and [[Sunni]] MP [[Mithal al-Alusi]] claimed that hundreds of thousands of voters had been denied the right to vote. This was confirmed by [[Ahmad Challabi]] who claimed it was not intentional but "a shortcoming in the electoral commission's preparations". Al-Alusi however also alleged Iranian diplomats were allowed into Iraqi polling stations and accused them of interfering in the polls.<ref>[http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/02/20092222926514297.html Al-Maliki allies ahead in Iraq vote]</ref>

Both the al-Iraqiya list and the Sadr Movement contested the results in court while the [[Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council]] contested the results in Baghdad while the Awakening Movements contested the results in Al Anbar. In total election committee officials received 1,000 complaints of irregularities, including 20 serious allegations of fraud and that serious violations had been reported in Anbar, Diyala, Mosul, Muthanna and in Baghdad. He however claimed that most lists provided no proof for their fraud allegations. Some voters however claimed to have witnessed fraud at the polling stations.<ref name="fraud" />

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090326080849/http://www.uniraq.org/documents/ElectoralMaterial/IHEC_Preliminary%20Results_Governorate%20Council%20Elections_2009_EN.pdf Provisional results showing lists, list numbers and percentages]

{{Iraqi governorate elections, 2009}}
{{Iraqi elections}}
{{Iraqi Kurdistan elections}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Iraqi Governorate Elections, 2009}}
[[Category:2009 Iraqi governorate elections| ]]
[[Category:January 2009 events in Iraq]]