Afghanistan elections: Here are the updates so far
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Polling centers opened at 7:00 am (0230 GMT) across the war-torn country, with some 54,000 security forces deployed to protect them.
Parliamentary elections are underway in Afghanistan amid high terror and war. However, people braved the threats and gathered in large numbers for a democratic Afghan.
Polling centers opened at 7:00 am (0230 GMT) across the war-torn country, with some 54,000 security forces deployed to protect them.
At least 10 candidates out of more than 2,500 contesting the lower-house election have been killed so far.
Here are the updates so far:
- Polling stations in Kabul opened Saturday morning and witnessed hundreds of people making their way to the ballots to cast their votes.
- Ballot counting will begin upon the conclusion of voting at 4 pm Kabul time in the presence of election observers, Al Jazeera reported.
- The electoral commission has not set a timeline for announcing official results, but preliminary results are expected within a month.
- Gardez Cit in the Paktia province also saw voters in large number early Saturday morning.
- Security has been tight all across the country. Forces patrolled the streets in Kabul as people made their way to the polling stations.
- Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani also cast his vote as well as Herat's governor and other officials. Ghani took to Twitter to announce the news saying, "I just voted. And I thank the ANDSF, the IEC staff, and the great people of Afghanistan who made it possible to vote despite the risks involved. Today we proved together that we uphold democracy. With casting our ballots without fear we honor the sacrifices of the fallen."
I just voted. And I thank the ANDSF, the IEC staff, and the great people of #Afghanistan who made it possible to vote despite the risks involved. Today we proved together that we uphold democracy. With casting our ballots without fear we honor the sacrifices of the fallen. pic.twitter.com/wrUCEa0MCR
— Ashraf Ghani (@ashrafghani) October 20, 2018
- Chief Executive of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah also cast his vote. He then lauded the efforts of the security forces and also condemned the death of Gen. Abdul Raziq and Gen. Momin Hussainkhail.
- Former national security advisor Mohammad Hanif Atmar also voted in today's parliamentary elections. Second Vice President Sarwar Danish also cast his vote in Kabul.
- Not all polling stations open on time.