Rasha Abd, an Iraqi immigrant living in Phoenix, Ariz., shows off her dyed finger after voting in Iraq's first independent election in nearly 50 years, in Irvine, Calif., Jan. 28, 2005. The Independent Iraqi Electoral Commission allowed Iraqi immigrants living in 14 countries to vote by absentee ballot. Balloting was to continue through Election Day in Iraq, Jan. 30.
California
Iraqi immigrants from Modesto, Calif., along with supporters of the Assyrian National Asembly, celebrate the Iraqi election and thank the United States for its help in holding the election, at the former El Toro Marine Base in Irvine, Calif., Jan. 28, 2005.
Washington State
With their van bearing Iraqi and U.S. flags, Muhamed Qatrani, right, and his wife Mechelle leave Seattle for Los Angeles, Jan. 28, 2005. A caravan of about a dozen vans carrying Pacific Northwest-area Iraqis made the trip.
Michigan
Ballot box supervisor Asia Oraha wipes away tears of joy after hearing the applause of fellow Iraqis who'd just cast their overseas votes in the Iraqi elections, in Southgate, Mich., Jan. 28, 2005.
Michigan
Oda Alsamari, left, and his wife, Sabeha Alsamari, register to vote in the Iraq elections with help from Kadhim Al-Khafaji in Southgate, Mich., Jan. 17, 2005. Thousands of Iraqi expatriates headed to the Detroit suburb of Southgate and four other U.S. cities to register in overseas balloting for the National Assembly elections.
Illinois
Iraqi expatriate Benjamin Nissan, a beautician who said he likes to dress like Elvis Presley, casts his ballot in Skokie, Ill., Jan. 28, 2005.
Maryland
Kazim Warmzyary, left, and Goran Rahim, right, who are Iraqi Kurds, hold a Kurdish flag as they celebrate after casting their absentee ballots for the Iraq election, Jan. 28, 2005, in New Carrolton, Md.
Tennessee
Awring Sabir, second from left, of Nashville, Tenn., and her daughter Rosa leave the voting tents in that city, with Zaynab Hameed of Jacksonville, Fla., right, and her son Ali, Jan. 28, 2005.
Denmark
A poll worker holds up cards indicatiing which group of voters are next to vote in the Iraqi election, in Taastrup, Denmark, Jan. 28, 2005. Thousands of exiled Iraqis, some wearing traditional Iraqi costumes under heavy winter coats, lined up amid heavy security in freezing temperatures outside Scandinavian polling stations to vote.
London
Iraqi ambassador to Britain Salah Al-Shaikh, right, places his vote in the ballot box after voting for the Iraqi elections, in London, Jan 28, 2005.
Germany
An unidentified Iraqi citizen casts her vote for the Iraqi election, in Berlin, Jan. 28, 2005. Iraqis who registered for the polling could vote in Munich, Cologne, Mannheim and Berlin.
Turkey
Kemal Beyatli, an Iraqi Turkman from Kirkuk, examines his ballot before voting at a polling station in Istanbul, Turkey, Jan. 28, 2005. Most of the voters in Turkey were expected to be ethnic Turks from northern Iraq, where a sizable Turkmen minority is concentrated in the oil-rich city of Kirkuk.
Turkey
A Turkish policeman stands guard as Iraqi women leave a polling station in Istanbul, Turkey, Jan. 28, 2005. More than 4,000 Iraqi citizens registered to vote in Turkey, out of an estimated 30,000 eligible Iraqi nationals in the country.
United Arab Emirates
An Iraqi woman smiles at her husband as he casts his vote in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 28, 2005. The Iraq Out-of-Country Voting Program allowed all Iraqis living outside the country to vote from Jan. 28 to 30, 2005.
United Arab Emirates
Iraqi citizens arrive at the polling station to cast their vote for the Iraq Elections in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 28, 2005.
Iran
An Iraqi election official, center, sits next to a ballot box as Iraqi women, at right, walk through the polling station for the Iraqi elections, in the Iranian city of Qom, Jan. 28, 2005. Iraqi expatriates were permitted to cast ballots in 14 countries across the world, but the voting in Iran held special significance.
Iran
Iranian policemen stand guard as Iraqis waving their national flags attend a demonstration in front of U.N office in Tehran, Jan. 17, 2005. Some 50 Iraqis gathered in front of the office demanding more facilities to initiate new ballot boxes for the upcoming Iraqi elections.
Jordan
Iraqi citizians arrive at a Jordanian school building to cast their votes during the first day of the Iraqi elections, in Amman, Jordan, Jan. 28, 2005.
Jordan
An Iraqi polling officer carries a ballot box and documents at a registration station for Iraqi voters in Amman, Jordan, Jan. 17, 2005. It was the first day of absentee voter registration for Iraqis living in Jordan.
Egypt
Virtual poll organizer Mariana Shmdenany plays with Noor Mutawea, 4, who came with her mother, unseen, to cast her ballot, in Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 28, 2005. Egypt was left off the list of countries hosting official centers where Iraqis can cast absentee ballots, so organizers in Cairo said they would collect the votes and send them to Jordan to be counted.