It has been years since Iraqis last showed their purple ink-stained fingers to demonstrate their participation in a free election. Since then, the country has experienced a brutal sectarian war, but has slowly recovered from it. With anticipation, Iraq's leaders, citizens, and US officials are eagerly awaiting the upcoming elections at the end of this month. Democracy is still highly valued in Iraq, as shown by the 400 parties and groups that have registered to field over 14,000 candidates for just 440 provincial council seats. Campaigning has been in full swing, with posters covering the concrete blast walls that have become a common sight in Iraqi life. The most significant accomplishment of the election might simply be the act of conducting it. Western diplomats believe that a subsequent round of elections, like this one, can be a tougher milestone for a fledgling democracy compared to the first. U.S. ambassador Ryan Crocker stated, "A single election does not establish a democracy. It is a series of elections that do." The election signifies that Iraq has moved past the peak of violence following the 2003 invasion and the escalation after the 2005 election. Just 18 months ago, it may have been impossible to hold a vote due to the high monthly death tolls from violence, which were up to 10 times higher than they are now. Many Iraqis are hopeful that the upcoming election will bring about change and reform to regional governments that are perceived as corrupt, unaccountable, and controlled by feuding sectarian groups. A senior Western diplomat noted that there is a widespread belief that the current leaders have not performed well. However, the possibility of violence remains high in a country where political disputes have historically been settled with guns and bombs. So far, two candidates have been assassinated and the deputy head of a Sunni Arab party was killed in a suicide bombing during a meeting with other candidates in his home. The upcoming provincial election will have a significant impact on the political landscape in Iraq, setting the stage for the national election later in the year where Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki will be fighting to maintain his position as leader. This election will be crucial in shaping Iraq's future after the departure of U.S. forces by the end of 2011. In the predominantly Shi'ite south, where the ruling coalition led by Maliki is based, the various parties will be competing against each other instead of as a unified bloc. The Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (ISCI), a powerful religious party, currently controls most of the southern provincial governments and is expected to maintain its dominance. However, Maliki is aiming to secure independent support for his own Dawa Party by promising improved services from a stronger central government. Supporters of Moqtada al-Sadr, a Shi'ite cleric who opposed the United States, are being cautious and not openly participating in the upcoming election as a unified group. Instead, they are endorsing independent candidates. In Sunni Arab regions of western and central Iraq, tribal groups called "Awakening Councils" are entering the election for the first time. These councils aided in removing Sunni extremists, such as al Qaeda, and are now vying for power against traditional Sunni religious parties. The majority of pre-election violence has occurred in the north, particularly in Nineveh province near Mosul, where US forces are still engaged in combat with Sunni militants who have been forced out of other regions. The last round of elections saw a boycott by many Sunni Arabs, leading to Kurds gaining control of the province's government, a situation that Western diplomats believe has contributed to unrest. While the election could eventually reduce violence by involving Sunnis in politics, the power shift in the province has sparked conflict among militant groups. The situation in Kirkuk, where Kurds view as their capital, is also volatile as the election has been postponed indefinitely due to disagreements among Kurds, Arabs, and Turkmen on voting rules.