More than 7m Afghans exercise franchise (Video)

More than 7m Afghans exercise franchise from Pajhwok Afghan News.

KABUL (Pajhwok): More than seven million (over 60 percent) Afghan voters on Saturday exercised their franchise in the landmark presidential and provincial polls, the Independent Election Commission announced.

IEC Chairman Mohammad Yousaf Nuristani told a news conference in Kabul that 3.5 million people, including 36 percent women, voted before 12.00 noon. He hailed people’s wide participation as an expression of confidence in the system.

Until 5pm, when the voting process closed, over 7 million had cast their ballots, he estimated, praising the high voter turnout despite insurgent threats of attacks and rainy weather.