Voters in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq began casting their ballots in parliamentary elections in the semi-autonomous region today, Sunday, after this electoral process was postponed multiple times.

Polling centers, numbering over 1,200, opened their doors at 7 AM (4 AM GMT) to elect 100 members of the region’s parliament, which has enjoyed self-governance since 1991.

The voting process is scheduled to continue until 6 PM (3 PM GMT).

The first phase of voting, known as the special voting for security forces, took place last Friday, where more than 208,000 voters cast their ballots, with a participation rate of 97%, according to the Independent High Electoral Commission.

In related news, the President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, urged citizens to exercise their right to vote and choose their representatives.