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Afghan election officials count ballot papers after polls closed in Kabul on June 14.
Afghan election officials count ballot papers after polls closed in Kabul on June 14.

Live Blog: Election Day In Afghanistan

Latest News

-- The vote count continues, as does the investigation into hundreds of claims of vote fraud. Final preliminary results are expected on July 2, and final results on July 22.

-- Many media refrained from reporting violence during the vote, but officials said June 15 that more than 270 Taliban attacks were recorded, resulting in the deaths of 50 civilians.

-- In one attack, a roadside bomb exploded beside a minibus that was carrying Afghan election workers home, killing 10 adults and a child.

-- Taliban militants severed the voting fingers of 11 voters in Herat Province.

-- The Independent Electoral Commission initially said that there were signs that voter turnout exceeded 7 million, putting it roughly on par with the first-round vote in April.

-- Officials said that, of those who turned out, 38 percent were women and 62 percent were men.

* NOTE: Times are stated according to local time in Kabul
08:12 14.6.2014
Radio Free Afghanistan:

"God willing, we will continue doing our job. It is the third straight day that I am on duty. In three days, I have only slept for two hours."
-- a police officer in the southern province of Kandahar
(RFE/RL Radio Free Afghanistan correspondents are on the ground and filing reports from throughout the country today.)
08:06 14.6.2014
Abdul Rasul Sayyaf, a former warlord, finished fourth in the first round election. In the second round, he has remained neutral, although the majority of his camp endorsed Abdullah. Today, however, Sayyaf will jump on one side of the fence.

07:54 14.6.2014
Security Update

Sediq Sediqi, spokesman for the Interior Ministry:
07:49 14.6.2014
Last Word

The two contenders have cast their ballots in Kabul, after which they each spoke to reporters.
"[During] the first round, there were many candidates. The nation was not presented with a clear choice. This time it is a clear choice between two leaders with different visions, different experience, two teams, committed to different ideals."
-- Ashraf Ghani

"My message to the people of Afghanistan is that today is your day, today is our day and today is Afghanistan's day. And a better future is waiting for them, a more prosperous life is waiting for them, a peaceful life is waiting for them. By voting for us, Inshallah, their future is assured and their future is guaranteed."
-- Abdullah Abdullah
07:46 14.6.2014
From The Provinces
"I didn't sleep at all last night to make sure everything is right and security is tight for the election."
-- Afghan policemen in the eastern province of Nangarhar
(RFE/RL Radio Free Afghanistan correspondents are on the ground and filing reports from throughout the country today.)
07:40 14.6.2014
"Today's event takes Afghanistan from a transition process toward stability, development, and a stronger peace in Afghanistan. People should be very happy today. You should all come and cast your vote, decide your destiny in order to free your nation from foreign dependency."
-- outgoing President Hamid Karzai
07:37 14.6.2014
07:22 14.6.2014
Bird's Eye View Of Kabul
07:10 14.6.2014
07:02 14.6.2014
Past Presidents

Poster of Dr. Mohammad Najibullah, the former leftist Afghan president who was killed by the Taliban after the militant group took control of Kabul in 1996.

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