Iraq prepares for elections

It’s taken months of planning and organizing, but in just a matter of hours, voting will begin in Iraq’s provincial elections — the latest step on a long, long road to democracy.

Hopes are high and the challenges are great, says International Crisis Group’s Joost Hiltermann, writing on The Argument today. “Today, even before the first ballot has been cast, the elections mark a remarkable transition,” says the organization’s most recent report on Iraq. As our photo essay highlights, the excitement is palpable. 

So have a read of Hiltermann’s take on the elections — what they mean and where the challenges still lie. And stayed tuned for more FP coverage. 

Photo: KHALIL AL-MURSHIDI/Getty Images