Iraqi lawmakers have passed a long-stalled election law paving the wave for national elections in late January. The election law provides for an open candidate list, allowing voters to cast their ballot for an individual rather than a party.

Iraqi blogger Raed Jarrar: “This election law is important to Iraqis because it increases the transparency of the Iraqi election system. Now Iraqis will be able, for the first time, to know who they are voting for, so all the candidates’ names must be public. And in addition to the domestic importance of the law, I think internationally it’s important because it will not give those who want to prolong the occupation an excuse. Many people have been trying to use delaying the Iraqi elections as an excuse to prolong the US occupation.”