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Iraq’s parliamentary election is scheduled to officially start Wednesday. This will be the first of its kind since the withdrawal¹ of US forces from the country. More than 20 million people nationwide are eligible² to vote. The government has taken measures to ensure adequate security during the polls. 

"We’ve set up three security lines for each polling station. The first line is formed by security forces and policemen. The second is by patrolling troops and others, while the third line is guarded by a special action team and security check equipment," said Saad Maan, Spokesman of Iraqi Ministry³ of Interior.

To cope, the Iraqi government has also closed the country’s biggest prison at Abu Ghraib. The prisoners have all been transferred to other areas of the country. The spokesman also expressed more security staff will be available for the election after the closure, and the government would be more active in combating terrorist attacks.

Meanwhile, Iraq has also closed its airspace until six p.m. Wednesday, when the elections conclude. To further reduce security risks, the country has also announced a week-long holiday for the whole nation. However, the series of attacks on university and elections rallies have cast a shadow on the elections.