For the second time in less than a year, a major election has been held in Iraq without the widespread violence that many had feared
BAGHDAD — Iraqis turned out in force yesterday — including Sunni Arabs who boycotted the nationwide election in January — to vote “yes” or “no” on a constitution viewed as a bellwether in efforts to build a democracy and stop terrorist attacks.
The day went smoothly with few attacks, from the time whole families began trickling into the polling stations early in the morning until voting ended at 5 p.m.
Officials estimated the turnout as high as 60 percent, slightly higher than the 58 percent of Iraqi voters who braved bombs and gunfire in January to elect a parliament.
60 percent ? That’s higher than we’ve seen in an American election in a long, long time.
It may not be perfect, it may be messy, and there is still a sizeable minority that would seek to destroy it and kill people in the process, but it appears that slowly but surely democracy is coming to Iraq.
