ARLINGTON, Virginia (CNN) -- Iraqis living in the United States began voting in their parliamentary elections early Friday in Virginia and seven other special polling places around the country.

They are among Iraqis living in 16 nations casting ballots this weekend.

One man draped the Iraqi flag around his shoulders as he cast his ballot at the polling place in an Arlington hotel. Another man carried his 5-month-old baby. The Sindy sisters, Fatima and Kadria, came wearing traditional floor-length Kurdish gowns.

Iraqi's ambassador to the United States, Samir Sumaidaie, praised his "brave and determined" countrymen for voting, whether in Iraq or overseas.

Sumaidaie cast the first ballot in Virginia, and then proudly showed off his right fore-finger stained with purple dye -- the traditional way to indicate a person has voted in Iraq.

"This day should be celebrated by Iraqis and by Americans," he said. "We have come a long way."

He said Iraqis will not be discouraged by the latest wave of violence inside Iraq. "Iraqi voters have proved to be undaunted by the challenges, brave and determined. They were not cowed in the past, they will not be cowed today," the ambassador said.

"In the dark days of 2006 and 2007 many people were writing the obituaries of Iraq, thinking that Iraq is lost. Well, we stood together, we proved them wrong and for that I am very happy."

Mohammed al-Atwani had driven seven hours from Boston, Massachusetts to Virginia to be a part of the election. He smiled broadly after casting his vote. "It is our future ... a future for our family and our kids," he said.

Fatima Sindy said, "We want this election to be fair for all the Iraqis. ... I am 30 years old, and I always have had to live in exile. I never have been able to live in my land."

Iraqis in the United States will be able to vote through Sunday.

In addition to the District of Columbia-area voting in Arlington, voting centers are located in the metro areas of Detroit, Dallas, Phoenix, Nashville, San Francisco, San Diego and Chicago.

William Grant, the State Department's special advisor for Iraq, said in 2005 some localities were reluctant to host elections, but there were no difficulties this year. The voting process is being carried out by Iraqi election representatives in each city.

The United Nations, which is working with Iraq's Independent Election Commission, said more than 28,000 Iraqi voters are expected in the United States and as many as 500,000 worldwide.