The story: As the results from Iraq’s Oct. 10 parliamentary elections trickle in, it is becoming clear that women candidates have excelled. The next 329-member Iraqi Council of Representatives will include a record 97 female lawmakers. 57 of these seats would have been won regardless of the allocated 25% quota for women in parliament.

The data: The Iraqi constitution outlines that one-fourth of lawmakers must be women. This comes up to 83 seats. Prior to the changes to the electoral law...