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All nine members of the Iraqi electoral commission tendered their resignation on Tuesday in protest at political interference, casting doubt on the election scheduled for next month.
The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) said it had found itself caught between conflicting rulings from parliament and the judiciary regarding the exclusion of some candidates from the April 9 election.
"The commission is subject to intense pressures resulting from the conflict between the legislative and judiciary powers," it said.
"In order to get out of this vicious circle, the members of the electoral commission have taken the decision to present their resignation collectively."
The statement said the conflict stemmed from divergent interpretations of the electoral law, which includes a clause allowing for candidates "of ill repute" to be barred.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has been accused of using the law to eliminate political rivals and clear the way for his third term.
The statement said the resignations were tendered in order to preserve the commission's "independence and professionalism."
Mr Maliki warned that failure to resolve the crisis could delay the election and send Iraq into a "tunnel we might not be able to get out of."
There are already doubts over whether the polls could even be held nationwide as anti-government fighters still control Fallujah.
But just hours after the IHEC collectively resigned, its chairman Sarbat Rashid said that amending a disputed article in Iraq's election law could provide a way out.
"If there is any problem, parliament has to amend it through legislation," said Mr Rashid after holding talks with diplomats from the UN mission to Iraq, the US embassy and the European Union mission.
IHEC has been frustrated with a vague provision in electoral law that requires parliamentary hopefuls to be "of good reputation."
Based on that article, a judicial panel has barred several prospective candidates, including Maliki opponents such as former finance minister Rafa al-Essawi, with no obvious avenue of appeal.
Mr Maliki called for IHEC to withdraw the resignations and urged parliament to pass an amendment "as fast as possible."
