In photos: Anbar residents vote, hope for change

Voter turnout was 38% across Anbar, according to local election officials.

By Saif Ahmed

2018-05-14

Residents of Fallujah's al-Joulan neighbourhood head to polling stations on Saturday (May 12th) under tight security. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

A father and son from Fallujah's al-Joulan neighbourhood head to a polling station to cast their votes. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

Iraqi security personnel, seen here in Fallujah, were deployed across Anbar province to ensure a smooth election process and allow residents to vote in safety. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

At al-Fallujah High School, men of all ages queue to cast their votes in Iraq's parliamentary elections. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

An Anbar youth casts his vote in the country's parliamentary elections -- the first to be held since the ouster of ISIS. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

Haj Khamis Abu Ahmed raises his finger, dipped in blue ink, to show he has voted at al-Jamhouriya High School polling station. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

A woman checks in to vote at al-Fallujah High School. Women in Anbar were oppressed during the rule of ISIS, which was defeated in the city last year. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

Anbar residents casting their ballots in Iraq's parliamentary elections on Saturday (May 12th) said they were voting for change, calling their right to vote a second victory over the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS).

The nationwide poll comes at a time of cautious hope for Iraq, five months after the country declared victory over ISIS. Anbar was the last province in Iraq to be recaptured from the extremist group.

Voter turnout was 38% across the province, Anbar Election Office director Saad al-Ithawi said, speaking at a news conference.

Security forces successfully executed the plan to protect polling stations and voters, said Maj. Gen. Saad Harith, commander of operations in eastern Anbar.