Charlie, the Iraqis aren't required by law to vote, as has been in the case in sham elections staged by the US in some other places, like El Salvador. But they have been coerced into participating in this election, the timing and framework of which was imposed by the Anglo American occupation authorities.

However, let me repeat here what I just posted in the "Election in Iraq" thread:

The main reasons why Iraqis would vote out of fear, is because everyone who voted had their hands marked with an indelible ink that won't wash off for a couple days.

So imagine you live in Sadr City in Baghdad. You have business in the City Centre today, and so leave Sadr City to go towards the Green Zone to take care of your business. You did not vote, because of threats and intimidation from the insurgents in your neighborhood, despite the fatwa from al Sistani.

You of course are stopped by US occupation forces on your way to the City Centre, to have your papers checked, etc. The soldier sees you don't have the election mark on your hands, asks you to step over to the side. Upon examination of your papers, he sees you are from Sadr City. He is immediately suspicious of you because your address is in Sadr City, and because you obviously haven't voted. The soldier immediately suspects you are associated with the insurgency, and has you arrested on the spot.

You are taken to a jail on the outskirts of the city, but no one in your family knows this.

Does that help any of you understand why this might matter to an Iraqi?