An Iraqi security officer ticks his ballot behind a privacy screen during the early voting round for members of the military and security forces in the 2023 Iraqi municipal elections, in the central holy shrine city of Najaf early on December 16, 2023. Iraqi voters in 15 of the 18 federal provinces go to the polls on December 18 to select members of the powerful provincial councils, in the first election of its kind since 2013, despite being mandated for every four years. The three Kurdish provinces operate under a separate autonomous system. Experts warn that, in an oil-rich country riven by graft, the councils will only serve to entrench Iraq's ruling elite, especially powerful pro-Iran groups. (Photo by Qassem al-KAABI / AFP)