On Thursday, U.S. Consul General in Erbil Steve Bitner urged both Kurdish and U.S. citizens to participate in the upcoming elections, with the Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections scheduled for October 20 and the U.S. presidential election scheduled for November 5.

“The United States will be holding elections soon in early November. Free and fair elections are a critical element in a thriving democracy because they ensure citizens have a voice in shaping their future,” U.S. Consul General Bitner said in a Kurdish video message on X.

Free and fair elections are a critical element in a thriving  democracy  because they ensure citizens have a voice in shaping their future. We encourage the people of the IKR to fully participate in their democratic process on October 20. pic.twitter.com/cCImajasb6

— U.S. Consulate General Erbil (@USCGERBIL) September 19, 2024

“By voting, people hold leaders accountable and can advocate for policies that reflect the needs and aspirations of their communities. 

“We encourage all eligible American citizens in the United States and abroad, including here in the Kurdistan Region, to vote in the American elections in November. Of course, the Kurdistan Region will be also holding its own elections on October 20 and we encourage the people of the Kurdistan Region to fully participate in the democratic process here by voting on October 20.”

In the United States, the presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump is heating up, with their first debate taking place on ABC News on September 10.

Moreover, in the Kurdistan Region, the election campaign for the Kurdistan Region’s parliamentary elections started this week.

Read More: KRG Prime Minister and UK Ambassador Discuss Kurdistan Elections

Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Tuesday met with the UK’s Ambassador to Iraq Steven Hitchen and discussed the preparations for the Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections.

Both parties agreed on the importance of conducting the elections in a calm and fair environment, free from fraud and interference.