They cannot vote or hold public office, though that will change in 2015.

CNN: SHARE THIS

They run for office because they want people to get used to the idea that a Muslim can even hold public office.

NPR: 'Mecca and Main Street': U.S. Muslims After Sept. 11

Clinton defeated Giuliani's replacement, Long Island Congressman Rick Lazio, in November to become the first first lady ever to hold public office in the United States.

CNN: Paper reports New York Mayor Giuliani files for divorce

So far, despite a handful of aldermen in the city, a few officials in the suburbs and one Puerto Rican member of Congress, relatively few Latinos hold public office.

ECONOMIST: Latinos are now the region's biggest minority

The Labour MP acknowledges that he doesn't have a public office or hold surgeries.

BBC: Middlesbrough MP Sir Stuart Bell fights laziest MP tag

The Home Office hopes public excitement about the opportunity voters are being offered to hold the police accountable may build in the coming weeks.

BBC: Do voters really want to choose their police commissioner?

Earlier this week, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki demanded that al-Sadr disband the Mehdi Army or see his supporters -- who hold seats in Iraq's parliament and once backed the prime minister's ruling coalition -- barred from public office.

CNN: Clashes in Baghdad's Sadr City kill 20