Iraq’s Elections Are Over. Now What? By Rand Al-Rahim* Iraq’s fifth parliamentary election since the 2003 US invasion is procedurally over. The polling stations have closed, but the fight over the results has just begun. The situation is still in flux. A week after election day, the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) is still checking ballots and receiving compl

The often-hazardous two-year struggle that led to this vote has left many of the youth movement’s most ardent supporters disillusioned with the electoral process entirely, so Washington will have to narrow its focus. When Iraqis head to the polls for an early election on October 10, they will have the Tishrin protest movement to thank. Unfortunately, large portions of the mo