Accessibility links

Breaking News
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
05:30 12.6.2014
New Voting Sites

The Independent Election Commission (IEC) has released a new list of voting sites that will be open on election day.

The number of voting sites in 30 provinces has increased since the first round, while in four other provinces the numbers dropped. In total, 23,000 voting sites will be operational compared to 19,000 in the first round.

Here is a breakdown of where the number of polling sites has increased. There willl be fewer pollling sites open in the provinces of Nuristan, Zabul, Ghazni, and Nangarhar.

IEC Commissioner Sareer Ahmad Barmak:

"The IEC directed us to increase the number of sites where there were shortages. In addition, in provinces where we ran out of ballot papers, additional sites have been created. Thirdly, we sent 5 percent additional ballots to each province."

The Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA) has demanded the IEC explain its reasons for making the changes.
05:54 12.6.2014
Several young Ghani supporters in Kabul.
05:56 12.6.2014
06:41 12.6.2014
Quiet in Kabul

Kabul is fairly quiet today. Not many residents out on the streets. Few cars on the roads. Security forces have put up scores of checkpoints across the city, which has made it difficult to travel around the city.

I spoke to a taxi driver, who told me he will be staying home for the next few days. "I don't need the constant bodychecks and questions."

Despite the tight security measures, some shops and stands are still operating.
07:28 12.6.2014
New Security Measures

As Afghan security forces make their preparations for Saturday's vote, new security measures are being rolled out in Kabul.
07:36 12.6.2014
Security extremely tight near the Defense Ministry compound in Kabul. There are checkpoints all along the main road. Every third or fourth car is being searched by police.
08:26 12.6.2014
08:30 12.6.2014
09:32 12.6.2014
11:32 12.6.2014
The presidential candidates have focused their campaigns on "economic development, responsible governance ... and striking pacts with former rivals and ethnic power brokers," according to this article from "The Los Angeles Times."

But the paper notes there has been a "virtual silence" when it comes to the hot-button issue of how to end hostilities with the Taliban. And despite the controversy it has caused in the United States, Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani made no mention of the Taliban's recent release of U.S. Army Sergeant Bow Bergdahl in exchange for the so-called Taliban Five.

Load more

XS
SM
MD
LG