BAGHDAD, Iraq – Patients, soldiers and prisoners began voting Monday in parliamentary elections, three days ahead of the general population, while insurgents said the balloting violated God’s law, and new violence killed at least 12 people.

Five Islamic militant groups denounced Thursday’s elections as a “satanic project,” vowing to continue their war to establish an Islamic regime, according to an Internet statement. But they made no threats to disrupt the process, unlike earlier balloting when militants warned they would attack polling stations.