In the time since Iraqis last proudly displayed their purple-stained fingers as a symbol of voting in a free election, their country has experienced a brutal sectarian war followed by slow progress towards recovery. As the next elections approach at the end of the month, Iraq's leaders, citizens, and US officials with troops stationed there are eagerly anticipating the outcome. Despite the challenges, there remains a strong enthusiasm for democracy nearly six years after the US-led invasion. Over 400 parties and groups have submitted candidates for the 440 provincial council seats, leading to a flurry of campaign activity and colorful posters adorning the concrete blast walls that have become a common sight in Iraq. According to Western diplomats, the most significant accomplishment of the election might be simply the act of conducting it. They believe that a second round of elections, like the one recently held, can be a more difficult milestone for a new democracy to achieve compared to the first. U.S. ambassador Ryan Crocker stated that a single election is not enough to establish a democracy; it is a series of elections that truly demonstrate a country's democratic progress. The election in Iraq is seen as a significant indicator of the country's recovery from the violence that plagued it following the 2003 invasion and worsened after the 2005 election. Just 18 months ago, it may have been impossible to hold a vote due to the high death tolls from violence. Many Iraqis are hopeful that the upcoming election will bring about change and reform regional governments that are perceived as corrupt, unaccountable, and influenced by feuding sectarian groups. A senior Western diplomat noted that there is a widespread belief that current leaders have not performed well. However, the high stakes of the election also raise concerns about potential violence in a country where political disputes are often settled with guns and bombs. So far, there have been two candidates assassinated and the deputy head of a Sunni Arab party killed in a suicide bombing during a meeting with candidates. The upcoming provincial election will have a significant impact on the national election later this year, where Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki will be fighting to maintain his position as leader of Iraq. This election will shape the future of Iraq after U.S. forces depart by the end of 2011. In the southern region, which is mostly made up of Shi'ite Muslims, Maliki's ruling coalition will be competing against each other, as opposed to running as a unified bloc. The Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (ISCI) currently holds control over most southern provincial governments and is the strongest group in the ruling coalition. However, Maliki is aiming to gain independent support for his Dawa Party by promising improved services from the central government. Supporters of Moqtada al-Sadr, a Shi'ite cleric who has clashed with the US and whose militia once controlled many southern towns, are now keeping a low profile and backing independent candidates in the upcoming election. In Sunni Arab regions in western and central Iraq, groups known as "Awakening Councils" are entering the election for the first time, aiming to take control from traditional Sunni religious parties. Much of the violence leading up to the election has been concentrated in the north, particularly in Nineveh province near Mosul, where US forces are still engaged in combat with Sunni militants. The previous election saw many Sunni Arabs abstain from voting, leading to Kurds winning control of the provincial government. This imbalance has exacerbated unrest, according to Western diplomats. While the election could ultimately reduce violence by engaging Sunnis in politics, the power shift in the province has given militant groups a new source of conflict. In Kirkuk, an oil-producing city claimed as the Kurdish capital, the election has been postponed indefinitely due to disagreements between Kurds, Arabs, and Turkmen over voting rules.