Why the election in Iraq is so important and what is at stake

An Iraqi girl poses with an ink-marked index finger at a polling station in the southern city of Basra during the historic Iraq elections - (AFP via Getty Images)

Iraq is in the midst of a parliamentary election this week, a vote at a critical juncture for the nation and the wider region.

The vote began on Sunday with polling for members of the security forces and displaced people living in camps. The general election began on Tuesday.