You can't keep a good Iraqi who wants to vote down

Around the world Iraqi emigres go to the polls... EL CAJON ---- In 15 countries around the world, including at a polling place in El Cajon, Iraqi expatriates began casting their ballots Tuesday for Iraq's new government, emerging with purple ink-stained fingers and the highest expectations for democracy to flourish in their homeland. Throughout the day, Iraqis from across the western United States steadily streamed through a pair of metal detectors and into the Royal Palace, an El Cajon banquet hall that will serve as one of eight polling centers in the U.S. until Thursday. Once inside, they cast their votes for one of 275 seats in the National Assembly that will replace the interim government that was elected earlier this year. Most voters in Iraq head to the polls on Thursday to elect 230 local representatives to the first parliament under the country's new constitution. Those Iraqis voting in the United States, Canada and other countries are hoping to influence who will win 45 seats that will be allocated according to a party's national and overseas vote tally. The importance of this election to the next four years in Iraq drew voters from as far away as Arizona and Utah to San Diego. So far security is keeping the violence at bay, so like I said the other day, godspeed and vote as soon as you can Iraqis!