For the Taylorsville man, the elections mean that it's time to go home.

"I'm really happy. This is the first time we have a government that is fair for the people," he said.

Al-Ahmed left his hometown of Samawa in the south of Iraq in 1991 and spent 7 years in a camp in Saudi Arabia with 35,000 other refugees who rejected Saddam Hussein's regime. When Al-Ahmed looked to the United States for political asylum, his journey took him in Utah, where he now works as a machine operator for a manufacturing company.

The success of the elections could mean Al-Ahmed, now 37, could return to live with his family as soon as February.

"I used to live in the desert. I appreciate what they did but I am still an Iraqi. My heart is with them," Al-Ahmed said.

Twice last year he traveled to Irvine, Calif., to participate in the election process, which was coordinated by the International Organization for Migration. Polling stations were established in 14 countries. Five U.S. cities were chosen to host the voting, but only the Irvine location was west of the Mississippi.

This year, Utah Iraqis will again have to travel to California, but now have the option of casting their vote in Los Angeles, San Diego or San Francisco.

With no vacation left, Al-Ahmed does not know if he can go. Many others have already left.

Among those planning to make the trek is Salt Lake City resident Mohamed Giravi, who said he will leave this morning with about 10 others to drive to L.A. - the gravity of their actions foremost in their minds.

"Whoever we elect are going to be ruling the country and deciding the fate of the country for the next four years," Giravi said. "The Iraqi people are not primitive. They are open people. They have education and they were suppressed.

To have an election in Iraq is like a dream come true. It's waking up in the morning and seeing the whole world has changed."

Giravi has not been to Iraq since he left in 1996. He is not as sure as Al-Ahmed if he will return. "I've asked that question many times. It's still unstable. They're trying to plan their future. We would think about it," he said.

mwestley@sltrib.com