ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - More than 8 million eligible Iraqi voters have yet to complete biometric registration, a requirement for participating in the country’s upcoming parliamentary elections, a human rights group said Thursday.

The Strategic Center for Human Rights in Iraq urged citizens to take advantage of an extended registration period, which now runs through June 15.

Hazem al-Rudaini, the center’s vice president, said Iraq’s Election Law No. 4 of 2022 mandates that only voters with biometric election cards can cast ballots in the Nov. 11 parliamentary elections. Those without the cards will be barred from voting.

“The total number of eligible voters has reached 29 million, including new voters born in 2005 and 2006,” Rudaini said. “So far, fewer than 21 million have registered biometrically.”

The previous deadline for biometric registration was May 23. The Independent High Electoral Commission has since extended the deadline to allow more voters to update their information.

The rights group called on the Iraqi government and the election commission to launch wide-reaching media campaigns to boost voter registration and turnout.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani urged broad participation in the November elections, calling them essential for legitimacy and national stability. At the launch of a voter engagement campaign, he emphasized youth involvement and criticized calls for boycotts. Influential cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who is sitting out the vote, has still urged his supporters to update their voter IDs.

The November 11 parliamentary elections will establish the sixth term of the Iraqi legislature, with over 29 million people estimated to be eligible to participate in the vote.