Over 3 mn voted in Afghan parliamentary polls

Over 3 mn voted in Afghan parliamentary polls

KABUL, Oct. 20, 2018 (Xinhua) -- Afghan President Ashraf Ghani (R, front) casts his ballot at a polling center during parliamentary elections in Kabul, Afghanistan, Oct. 20, 2018. Millions of Afghan voters cast their ballots on Saturday for long-delayed parliamentary elections in the militancy-plagued country amid reports of security threats and irregularities. (Xinhua/Dai He/IANS)

KABUL, Oct. 20, 2018 (Xinhua) -- Afghan First Lady Rula Ghani (C) casts her ballot at a polling center during parliamentary elections in Kabul, Afghanistan, Oct. 20, 2018. Millions of Afghan voters cast their ballots on Saturday for long-delayed parliamentary elections in the militancy-plagued country amid reports of security threats and irregularities. (Xinhua/Dai He/IANS)

KABUL, Oct. 20, 2018 (Xinhua) -- Voters prepare to cast their ballots at a polling center during parliamentary elections in Kabul, Afghanistan, Oct. 20, 2018. Millions of Afghan voters cast their ballots on Saturday for long-delayed parliamentary elections in the militancy-plagued country amid reports of security threats and irregularities. (Xinhua/Dai He/IANS)

Kabul, Oct 21 (IANS) More than three million voters have cast their ballot in Afghanistan's parliamentary elections that were held on Saturday amidst terror threats, the country's Independent Election Commission (IEC) said on Sunday.

In the elections, high turnouts were reported in Kabul, Herat, Daykundi and Nangarhar provinces while the lowest turnout was reported in Uruzgan province, Xinhua news agency quoted the IEC as saying.

Voting in Kandahar and Ghazni provinces was postponed due to security reasons.

In an effort to provide opportunity to people who failed to vote on Saturday, the IEC will allow them to vote on Sunday, the statement said.

The elections covered 32 out of the country's 34 provinces. More than 2,500 candidates are contesting for the 249-seat lower house of the parliament for a five-year term.

On Saturday, 27 people including 11 security force members were killed and 100 others injured, according to Afghan Ministry of Interior Affairs.

--IANS

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