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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
08:42 11.6.2014
More on kidnapping of teachers and students from Kandahar

In a Boko Haram-style kidnapping, a group of university teachers and students from Kandahar were kidnapped on June 10 while on their way to Kabul.

Radio Free Afghanistan spoke to one of the teachers that was injured by suspected militants and managed to flee. The teacher is in hospital in southeast Ghazni Province, where the incident took place.

"First we heard gunfire, and then I got hit. Consequently, a number of men covering their faces stopped our bus. The area was desert. They asked us to walk with them for a while and transferred us to another car. There were around 37 university professors and around eight or nine students. They were all taken to an undisclosed location."
09:01 11.6.2014
Importance of young voters

Freelance journalist, Ali Latifi, writes on the important role youth could play in the upcoming run-off.

While the two remaining candidates have spent weeks looking to woo tribal and religious leaders, Latifi says they are making a last ditch attempt to win over young voters.

"Though many young Afghans remain dubious about an election lacking in new faces, both candidates acknowledge that the youth vote could be the key to their success. An estimated 68 percent of the country’s population is under 25 years old."

Latifi wrote a good piece on the eve of the first round, providing insight into why Afghanistan's youth aren't pumped about the election.
09:33 11.6.2014
10:07 11.6.2014
10:11 11.6.2014
Ashraf Ghani and his team making lots of promises on the last day of campaigning:
10:20 11.6.2014
10:22 11.6.2014
Abdullah Abdullah, too, is making his last pitches to voters today:
10:32 11.6.2014
10:38 11.6.2014
11:19 11.6.2014
First Rain, Now Heat

Afghans had to brave torrential rains in the first round election. This time around, it seems they will have to brave the heat. Weather forecasts say it will reach 38 °C on election day.

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