An Iraqi woman shows her ink-stained finger after casting her vote in the country's parliamentary elections in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, May 12, 2018. Polls opened across Iraq on Saturday in the first national election since the declaration of victory over the Islamic State group. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
The Associated Press
BAGHDAD (AP) - The Latest on Saturday's national elections in Iraq (all times local):
11:30 p.m.
Iraq's national elections commissioner says turnout in the first parliamentary elections since the country declared victory over the Islamic State group was 44 percent.
Riyadh al-Badran, an elections commissioner, said more than 10 million Iraqis voted in Saturday's election.
It is the lowest recorded turnout since the U.S. occupation in 2003. Previous elections saw turnout at or above 60 percent.
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10:15 p.m.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has congratulated Iraq for holding its first parliamentary elections since the country declared victory last year over the Islamic State group.
Pompeo reaffirmed Washington's commitment to the Strategic Framework Agreement that underpins U.S.-Iraq relations. In a statement, Pompeo called on Iraq's new parliament to form an inclusive government to work for all Iraqis.
Saturday's polls were marked by low turnout. Results are expected within the next 48 hours according to the independent body that oversees Iraq's election, but negotiations to choose a prime minister tasked with forming a government are expected to drag on for months.
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7:45 p.m.
Polls have closed across Iraq in the first national election since the country declared victory over the Islamic State group. Saturday's vote - the fourth since the 2003 U.S.-led toppling of Saddam Hussein - was marked by reports of low turnout and irregularities.
Results are expected within 48 hours, according to the independent body that oversees Iraq's election, but negotiations to choose a prime minister tasked with forming a government are expected to drag on for months.
Voting began early Saturday morning in a contest that had no clear front-runner after weeks of official campaigning. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's stiffest competition came from political parties with closer ties to Iran.
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7:00 a.m.
Polls have opened across Iraq in the first national election since the declaration of victory over the Islamic State group.
No clear front-runner has emerged after weeks of official campaigning as Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi faces stiff competition Saturday from political parties with closer ties to Iran.
The vote - the fourth since the 2003 U.S.-led overthrow of Saddam Hussein - will be conducted electronically for the first time to reduce fraud. Polling centers have been set up for many of the country's 2 million people who remain displaced by the war against IS.
Al-Abadi took office just weeks after IS fighters overran nearly a third of Iraq's territory in the summer of 2014 and has since overseen the grueling military defeat of the group.
An Iraqi woman prepares to cast her vote in the country's parliamentary elections in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, May 12, 2018. Polls opened across Iraq on Saturday in the first national election since the declaration of victory over the Islamic State group. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
The Associated Press
An Iraqi woman casts her vote in the country's parliamentary elections in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, May 12, 2018. Polls opened across Iraq on Saturday in the first national election since the declaration of victory over the Islamic State group. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
The Associated Press
An Iraqi woman casts her vote in the country's parliamentary elections in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, May 12, 2018. Polls opened across Iraq on Saturday in the first national election since the declaration of victory over the Islamic State group. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
The Associated Press
An Iraqi man casts his vote in the country's parliamentary elections in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, May 12, 2018. Polls opened across Iraq on Saturday in the first national election since the declaration of victory over the Islamic State group. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
The Associated Press
An Iraqi woman casts her vote in the country's parliamentary elections in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, May 12, 2018. Polls opened across Iraq on Saturday in the first national election since the declaration of victory over the Islamic State group. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
The Associated Press
In this Thursday, May 3, 2018 photo, campaign poster of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in seen in Baghdad, Iraq. Four years in office, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi has racked up a list of achievements to make most politicians green with envy. He prevailed over an Islamic State insurgency that at its peak controlled one-third of the country. He steered Iraq's economy through a collapse in global oil prices. And he foiled a Kurdish bid for independence. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this May 1, 2018 file photo, Iraq Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, speaks during a campaign rally in Baghdad, Iraq. Four years in office, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi has racked up a list of achievements to make most politicians green with envy. He prevailed over an Islamic State insurgency that at its peak controlled one-third of the country. He steered Iraq's economy through a collapse in global oil prices. And he foiled a Kurdish bid for independence. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban, File)
The Associated Press
In this Monday, April 23, 2018 photo, campaign poster of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is displayed in Baghdad, Iraq. Four years in office, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi has racked up a list of achievements to make most politicians green with envy. He prevailed over an Islamic State insurgency that at its peak controlled one-third of the country. He steered Iraq's economy through a collapse in global oil prices. And he foiled a Kurdish bid for independence. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
The Associated Press
In this Friday, May 11, 2018 photo, campaign posters for parliamentary elections are displayed near destroyed buildings from fighting between Iraqi forces and the Islamic State group in Ramadi, Iraq. Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi has racked up a list of achievements to make most politicians green with envy. He prevailed over an Islamic State insurgency that at its peak controlled one-third of the country. He steered Iraq's economy through a collapse in global oil prices. And he foiled a Kurdish bid for independence. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
The Associated Press
Campaign posters for parliamentary elections are displayed near destroyed buildings from fighting between Iraqi forces and the Islamic State group in Ramadi, 70 miles (115 kilometers) west of Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, May 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
The Associated Press
Campaign posters for parliamentary elections are displayed near destroyed buildings from fighting between Iraqi forces and the Islamic State group in Ramadi, 70 miles (115 kilometers) west of Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, May 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
The Associated Press
Iraqis wait in a long line next to a building in ruins from the battle to oust Islamic State militants to cast their vote in the country's parliamentary elections at a polling site in west Mosul, Iraq, Saturday, May 12, 2018. This is the first parliamentary election since the Islamic State group was driven from the city.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
The Associated Press