In the years since the last time Iraqis proudly showed their purple-stained fingers to signify voting in a free election, their country has experienced and slowly recovered from a brutal sectarian war. As Iraq's leaders, citizens, and the remaining 140,000 US troops eagerly await the upcoming elections at the end of the month, there is a strong sense of anticipation for democracy. Nearly 400 parties and groups have registered to compete for 14,431 candidates vying for just 440 provincial council seats. Campaigning has led to a multitude of posters covering the concrete blast walls that have become a common sight in Iraq. According to Western diplomats, the most significant accomplishment of the election may be simply the act of conducting it. A subsequent round of elections can pose greater challenges for a new democracy than the first, as stated by U.S. ambassador Ryan Crocker. The election serves as a crucial indicator that Iraq has moved past the worst of the violence that plagued it post-2003 invasion and intensified after the 2005 election. Just 18 months ago, the monthly death toll from violence was much higher, making holding a vote seem impossible. 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 sectarian groups. A senior Western diplomat noted that there is a widespread belief that current leaders have performed poorly. However, the high stakes of the election also raise concerns about potential violence in a country where political disputes have historically been settled with guns and bombs. So far, two candidates have been killed and the deputy head of a Sunni Arab party was assassinated by a suicide bomber during a meeting with other candidates. Changing the landscape will be decided by the provincial election, which will impact the national election later this year. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki will be fighting to maintain his leadership as U.S. forces prepare to leave Iraq by the end of 2011. In the southern region, where the Shi'ite majority resides, Maliki's ruling coalition will be competing against each other, with the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (ISCI) currently holding control. Maliki aims to gain individual support for his Dawa Party by promising improved services from a stronger central government. Supporters of Moqtada al-Sadr, a Shi'ite cleric known for his anti-American views and whose Mehdi Army militia once had control over many southern towns until Maliki intervened last year, are maintaining a low profile during the elections. Instead of standing as a united group, they are endorsing independent lists of candidates. In western and central Iraq, Sunni Arab tribal groups referred to as "Awakening Councils" will be participating in the elections for the first time. These councils played a crucial role in assisting U.S. troops in eliminating Sunni militants, including al Qaeda, and are now aiming to take power from traditional Sunni religious parties. Most of the violence leading up to the elections has occurred in the north, particularly in Nineveh province around Mosul, where U.S. forces are still engaged in combat with Sunni militants who are regrouping after being driven out of other regions. The last round of elections saw a boycott by many Sunni Arabs, allowing Kurds to take control of the provincial government in a region where they are a minority. This imbalance has contributed to unrest, according to Western diplomats. While the election could potentially reduce violence by involving Sunnis in politics, the shifting power dynamics have led to conflict among militant groups. In Kirkuk, a city claimed by Kurds as their capital, the election has been postponed indefinitely due to disagreements over voting rules among Kurds, Arabs, and Turkmen.