Los Angeles is one of the five cities in the U.S. where Iraqis can register to vote

Many are taking a road trip there to register. It's a long trip from Seattle, about 1,550 miles and roughly 18 hours if you're driving the speed limit.

Mohammad Qatrani organized the trip with 20 vans involved. He explained the trip would take his group a little longer.

"It's going to be at least 24 hours with all the stops," he said. "You've got to figure we've got women and children with us so, it's going to be a long drive."

But every mile of the trip is worth if for a privilege Qatrani never thought he'd get. Because soon 150 people in his group will be registered to vote in Iraq's first free election.

"From here, from this place, even if we drive 20 hours, nothing can compare to what the people are going to give up over there in Iraq," he said.

Qatrani followed all of the local elections; the race between Dino Rossi and Chris Gregoire, and the Inauguration of President Bush.

Qatrani is proud of the process, but he said nothing quite compares to what's happening in Iraq.

"A lot of people take the election for granted. But when you've never had an election in your country and you'll be part of the decision making you feel like you did something," he said.

Qatrani told KOMO 4 News this was the first of two road trips to Los Angeles. First they are going down there to register to vote, then his group will get back together and return to actually cast their votes.