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That connection to the land and its Christian history is even evident among young Christian voters who have never seen Iraq. "If all of us out of Iraq come together and vote for them and support them, then things will happen over there," said Arbella Baba, 19, an American-born Iraqi Christian who lives and voted in Skokie. "I want them to be who they are without being persecuted. I think we should be able to live freely and openly without having to be afraid of what we are."

She is an eligible voter under Iraqi constitutional law because her father, an American, is Iraqi-born.

Voters cast ballots mindful of the past, but with an eye to the future. "I'm voting because we elderly have to lead the way for our children," said Phillip Lado, 73, speaking in his native Assyrian language. "We want to ask God to pour peace into our dear country of Iraq."

Many Iraqi expatriates want a Christian representative in their native land's national assembly so the security concerns of Christians can be heard. In the January elections, one of the five Christian representatives in the temporary assembly was elected almost entirely by out-of-country voters.

"We need to reach the minimum of (an estimated) 62,500 votes to achieve a parliamentary seat," Isho Lilou, an elections official, said. Election results will not be announced until ballots from around the world have been counted and submitted to Iraq. That process is expected to take several days.

Out-of-country votes will be counted toward 45 "compensatory seats" of the 275-seat assembly, which will remain in authority for a full four-year term.

For Iraqi Christians, the outcome could determine the stability of their community, and an opportunity for exiles to return. "We have become orphans in 54 different countries, scattered," Lado said. "We have to have representation to have our rights met like all people."

Copyright © 2005 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

CT covered the Iraqi elections for an interim government from Skokie as well.

More coverage of Iraq includes:

Lost in the Sunni Triangle | Leaders of Baghdad church presumed dead. (Nov. 2, 2005)

Iraq's Worrisome Constitution | A future government will have to untangle the threads of a document that claims to be both Islamic and democratic. (Aug. 30, 2005)

Iraqis in U.S. Won't Vote on Constitution | Christian minorities fear Shari'ah law will force a continued exodus from Iraq. (Aug. 04, 2005)

Members of One Another | Iraq's endangered church looks to Western fellowship for help. (March 22, 2005)

Longing to Be Heard | It's dangerous and lonely to be an Iraqi Christian—at home or in exile. ( March 21, 2005)

The Risks of Regime Change | Middle Eastern Christians might end up more repressed under democracy than under dictators. ( March 18, 2005)

Voting Against Anarchy | The greatest threat to liberty in Iraq is not international terrorism. (A Christianity Today editorial, Feb. 18, 2005)

The Mother of All Liberties | Full religious freedom for Iraq is not negotiable.—A Christianity Today editorial  (June 2, 2003)

Longing to Be Heard | It's dangerous and lonely to be an Iraqi Christian—at home or in exile. (March 21, 2005)

Losing Jesus' Language | The Assyrians, Iraq's main Christian population, struggle to keep their heritage and their ancient language. (Feb. 04, 2005)

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December (Web-only) 2005, Vol. 49