BERKELEY- In 1911, as my home country of Mongolia was about to adopt a socialist system, the small city of Berkeley in America voted for its first openly socialist mayor, Jackson Stitt Wilson. Since then Berkeley has been recognized as a leading left-wing city in America. Even the media comfortably label Berkeley instead of just stating the city’s name in their stories. Time Magazine and the Oakland Tribune have used the term “The People's Republic of Berkeley,” which reminds me of my country’s former name during its socialist years: “The People’s Republic of Mongolia”.

BERKELEY- A few months after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, rumors suggested that Iraqis would soon vote “democratically and freely” for the first time in decades. We were confused. The only experience we had in voting was in two referendums to decide whether Saddam Hussein should stay the “only leader and the hero of the Arab nation” in Iraq. That, of course, was more of a joke – and a day-off – than a true political experiment.

BERKELEY- On November 7th I will vote in the United States for the first time. That doesn't mean that I haven’t voted before. I have, but never on American ground.

BERKELEY -- Jung-Hee Cho, 56, who owns a laundry and dry cleaning business in downtown Berkeley, seems a fairly typical Korean-American immigrant. Ever since she established her U.S citizenship in 1981, she has not neglected her duty as a registered voter.