Iraqis living in Jordan started casting ballots Friday morning in Iraq's first election after the fall of Saddam Hussein in April 2003.
"For the security reason, I was forced to leave Iraq, but I hope my country will restore stability as soon as possible," a 60-year- old woman voter told Xinhua at one of polling stations.
"I think casting the vote represents my wish to help the war- torn country," she added.
The polling stations will open from 07:00 to 17:00 until Jan. 30, the ballot day for Iraqis at home, to elect Iraq's 275-member transitional National Assembly with one-year mandate.
Their responsibilities will include choosing a Presidential Council and drafting Iraq's permanent constitution.
A total of 20,166 overseas Iraqis registered in Jordan for the historic election in Iraq.
This number accounts for about twenty percent of overall Iraqis eligible for vote in Jordan.
Over 280,000 Iraqi expatriates all over the world registered to vote between Jan. 17 and 25.