Voters in the predominantly Christian town of Ankawa in Erbil, the capital of Iraq's Kurdistan Region, have expressed hope that voting in Iraq's latest parliamentary election can be a peaceful way to demand their rights and make their voices heard. Iraq held its sixth parliamentary election since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion on Tuesday, with over 20 million eligible voters casting ballots at 8,703 polling centers to choose among 7,744 candidates competing for 329 parliamentary seats. One local official in Erbil bemoaned the conduct of the last two elections, holding out hope that this one would be more representative of popular will. Facing persistent economic and security challenges, some in Erbil said their priorities were focused on change and development. Shotlist: Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq - Nov 11, 2025: 1. Various of voters looking at voter information, voting; 2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Anoo Jawhar Abdoka, minister of transport and communications, Kurdistan Region (ending with shot 3): "We participated because we believe every single voice counts. We owe it to the martyrs who defended Iraq's democracy on the gallows of the former regime. However, for the past two election cycles, our three seats have been hijacked -- stolen by armed militias who inject dozens of fraudulent votes to steal the Christian seats. That is why, today, a single vote can change the equation."; 3. Various of voters registering, voting; 4. Various of voters walking to polling station, talking at door; 5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Emad Yaqoub, voter: "Elections are a celebration -- a joyous occasion. Because there is nothing more important than valuing the individual, and giving them the power to choose what they want and what expresses their identity."; 6. Various of voters registering, voting; 7. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Goran Abdul-Jabbar, voter: "I came here to make a change. If I stay home, I can't change anything. So, I'm voting for the candidate whose vision, I believe, will fulfill both my personal and public aspirations. That's why I chose to come here today -- to elect a representative I trust."; 8. Voters at polling station. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]