Turnout was light and problems at the polls were many, but Iraqis voted Saturday for the first time since the country declared victory over ISIS.

Results of the fourth vote since Saddam Hussein was toppled in 2003 are expected by Monday. It may be months, though, before a new government is formed and a new prime minister chosen. Dozens of political parties fielded nearly 7,000 candidates for 329 seats in parliament, yielding no clear front-runner during the campaign.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s toughest competition came from politicians with closer ties to Iran, including Hadi al-Ameri. Al-Ameri, who heads of one of Iraq’s most powerful Shiite militias, gained popularity for his role fighting ISIS. Former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is considered another major challenger.

The Iraqi government declared victory over ISIS in November. At the height of its power, the terror group controlled a huge swath of the country

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo released a congratulatory statement on the vote and urged the quick formation of a new government. The outcome will help decide whether U.S. forces maintain a presence in Iraq.

Voter apathy reflected continued economic struggles, sparked in part by a drop in global oil prices. Iraqis are also disenchanted by entrenched corruption and years of political gridlock. Jobs and security were among the main issues in the campaign.

The country’s most senior Shiite cleric, Sheikh Abdul-Mahdi al-Karbalai, urged Iraqis to vote “to prevent the arrival of a corrupt parliament,” but reports of low turnout were widespread.

Some voters complained of being turned away from polling stations because they didn’t have biometric ID cards linked to the new electronic voting system.

“I lost my right to vote,” said Thamer Aref, 45, of central Baghdad, who along with his wife and daughter was unable to cast a ballot because of an ID snafu.

Associated Press journalists documented several similar cases at a number of different polling stations across Baghdad Saturday morning.

With Post wires