Iraqis head to vote in 1st parliamentary election since defeating IS

At the first minutes after the opening of a polling center in Salhiyah neighborhood in downtown Baghdad, Kamil Khudir was very happy to be the first to cast vote.

"I hope the election would bring about a better life for the Iraqis after years of chaos, violence and poor governance," he told Xinhua.

In response to IS threats to disrupt the voting, Iraqi government has deployed a large number of security forces across the country, creating a three-layer protection for all polling stations.

Still, there were sporadic attacks in the provinces of Salahudin and Diyala.

An explosive device was detonated near a polling station in Mes'hag area of Salahudin province Saturday, killing four security guards. In Diyala's provincial capital Baqubah, security forces killed two suicide attackers.

About 24 million Iraqis are eligible to vote in the race in which around 7,000 candidates are vying for 329 seats in the parliament.

The 8,959 polling stations across the country will close at 6:00 pm local time. The election results are expected to be announced in 24 hours afterwards.