Iraq Parliamentary Elections took place March 7. As determined by Iraq, 16 countries held Out-of-Country voting centers, including the United States.

As an Iraqi-American, I was eligible to vote under Iraq’s requirements and cast my ballot this weekend in Virginia, one of only five states with polling centers for the Diaspora community who fled Iraq under former President Saddam Hussein.

This is Iraq’s second-ever parliamentary elections. The first one was held in 2005, electing Iraq’s first 275 members of parliament, who then appointed the prime minister.

“Today’s voting makes it clear that the future of Iraq belongs to the people of Iraq,” President Barack Obama said March 7. “Overall, the level of security and the prevention of destabilizing attacks speaks to the growing capability and professionalism of Iraqi Security Forces, which took the lead in providing protection at the polls.”

Your blogger, with her finger dyed in purple ink, a measure to keep people from voting more than once.

Similar to the 2005 elections, violence was kept to a minimum with the help of a nationwide curfew and other security measures implemented by American troops.

“I also want to express my admiration for the thousands of Americans on the ground in Iraq — for our civilians and our men and women in uniform who continue to support our Iraqi partners,” Obama said. “This election is also a tribute to all who have served and sacrificed in Iraq over the last seven years, including many who have given their lives.”

The ballots from all 16 participating countries – Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Syria, Turkey, Germany, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Lebanon, Denmark, Sweden, The Netherlands, Austria, Iran, Egypt and the United States – in tamper-evident clear bins will be shipped overseas for the final tabulations.

“In this process, the United States does not support particular candidates or coalitions,” Obama said. “We support the right of the Iraqi people to choose their own leaders.”

Proof of Iraqi origin was a requirement in all the countries, as declared by Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission, which organized the 2010 vote.

“We are mindful, however, that today’s voting is the beginning and not the end of a long electoral and constitutional process,” Obama said. “The ballots must be counted. Complaints must be heard, and Iraq — with the support of the United Nations — has a process in place to investigate and adjudicate any allegations of fraud. A parliament must be seated, leaders must be chosen, and a new government must be formed. All of these important steps will take time — not weeks, but months.”

Polls closed worldwide today and in-country tabulations have already begun.

“I congratulate the people of Iraq for casting their ballots in this important parliamentary election,” Obama said. “I have great respect for the millions of Iraqis who refused to be deterred by acts of violence, and who exercised their right to vote today. Their participation demonstrates that the Iraqi people have chosen to shape their future through the political process.”