Hello Democracy, Meet Iraq

Iraqi voters refused to be intimidated despite insurgent attacks designed to keep them away from polling places. At least 36 people were killed. Ten million voters showed up at 10,000 polling places to vote for over 6,000 candidates in Iraq’s general election, a 62% turnout according to the BBC. For comparison, voter turnout in the U.S. for the 2008 Presidential election was 56.8%.

Anbar, a mainly Sunni province had a 61% voter turnout. There were fears that Sunnis might not show up to vote due to previous feelings of hostility from the political process in the 2005 elections.

Many Sunnis reportedly cast their ballots for former secular (and Shiite) interim Iraqi leader Ayad Allawi's faction. Prime Minister Nouri Maliki’s State of Law Coalition is expected to win most of the seats but it is unlikely that one party will form a government alone.

Is this election a precursor of many to come? The goal is for Iraq to put together a government that will set a democratic tone for the future, paving the way for the planned withdrawal of US Troops.

The final results are not expected until the end of March although preliminary results are expected within the next few days.

Will Iraq embrace Democracy? What is the US’s relationship with Nouri Maliki? Will US Troops really be allowed to come home after Iraq establishes a democratic government? Is Democracy what Iraqis truly want?