Afghanistan Election extended by two hours, amid low turnout, violence

KABUL-(MaraviPost)-The Independent Election Commission extended voting by two hours, with polls now set to close at 5pm (12:30 GMT).

“There was always a contingency for the polling stations to be open to facilitate the last minute surge of people coming in to vote,” Al Jazeera’s Rob Mcbride reporting from Kabul, said.

“They were due to be close by now but they happen to be open for further two hours – it does seem as though it is giving people in other parts of Afghanistan a chance to vote if they have not already voted.”

Incumbent President Ashraf Ghani is seen as the frontrunner in the 14-man race, with Abdullah Abdullah, the country’s chief executive, considered his main rival.

Security forces are on high alert due to threats from the Taliban to attack polling stations.

Lloyd M’bwana

I’m a Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resource (LUANAR)’s Environmental Science graduate (Malawi) and UK’s ICM Journalism and Media studies scholar. Also University of Malawi (UNIMA) Library Science Scholar. I have been The Malawi Country Manager and duty editor for the Maravi Post since 2019. My duty editor’s job is to ensure that the news is covered properly, that it is delivered on time, and that it is created to the standards set out in the editorial guidelines of the Maravi Post.