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Preparing for Progress: 14 Photos From Afghanistan Before Historic Election

As April 5 approaches, Afghans prepare for the third presidential election in the nation since the fall of the Taliban in 2001 as Hamid Karzai, who has been president since 2004, steps down. Of some 31 million people living in Afghanistan, only 12 million are eligible voters, according to the AP, as about 42% of the country's population falls below the legal voting age of 18.

Among the 11 candidates running for president, three are considered favorites: the frontrunner, Abdullah Abdullah, who lost to Karzai in 2009, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, a former World Bank official who also lost to Karzai in 2009, and Zalmai Rassoul, who reportedly has strong ties with Karzai and is the only candidate with a female running mate.

See also: Journalist Deaths Highlight Deteriorating Security in Afghanistan

The run-up to the historic election has been marred by violence and kidnappings. On Wednesday, a suicide bomber dressed in the uniform of the Afghan security forces detonated himself outside the Interior Ministry in Kabul, killing at least six police officers. According to Al Jazeera, the Taliban claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing three days before the election, which the group has vowed to disrupt.

But in the face of the attacks, Afghan voters appear determined to cast their votes. According to the Independent Electronic Commission — itself the target of Taliban attacks — nearly 3.7 million new voters have registered for the presidential and council elections on April 5.

"I know my vote counts, and this time even if I get killed I will go and vote, I'm not scared of Taliban threats," Rassoul Khurami, a 60-year-old shopkeeper told Al Jazeera.

Afghanistan Prepares For Presidential Election

  1. An Afghan security personnel stands guard during a campaign rally for Afghan presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai in Kabul, Afghanistan on April 1, 2014.

    Image: Massoud Hossaini/Associated Press

  2. An Afghan woman sits on destroyed school benches as she waits to get her registration card on the last day of voter registration.

    Image: Anja Niedringhaus/Associated Press

  3. An Afghan soldier, left, and a police man peek through a window as they queue with others to get their registration card in Kabul.

    Image: Anja Niedringhaus/Associated Press

  4. Afghan residents gather outside a closed voter registration center to try to receive their voter cards a day after registration ended.

    Image: Behrouz Mehri/AFP/Getty Images

  5. Afghan men watch as presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai holds a rally for thousands of supporters.

    Image: Scott Peterson/Getty Images

  6. Afghan election workers carry plastic boxes with election material for distribution at a warehouse in Mazar-i-Sharif.

    Image: Farshad Usyan/AFP/Getty Images

  7. Afghan Presidential candidate Abudullah Abdullah, right, waves as he leaves a political rally on the last day of campaigning, April 2.

    Image: Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images

  8. Afghan policemen man a perimeter set up by authorities near the Afghan Ministry of Interior after a suicide bomber blew himself up at a nearby entrance.

    Image: Sha Marai/AFP/Getty Images

  9. Afghan presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai is mobbed as he arrives at a rally.

    Image: Scott Peterson/Getty Images

  10. An Afghan security guard stands among supporters of Afghan presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai.

    Image: Massoud Hossaini/Associated Press

  11. Female supporters of Afghan vice presidential candidate, Habiba Sarabi, listen to her speech during a campaign rally for women in Kabul.

    Image: Massoud Hossaini/Associated Press

  12. An Afghan man displays his voter registration card at a registration center.

    Image: Rahmat Gul/Associated Press

  13. Afghan election workers prepare ballot boxes and election materials to be loaded into trucks and delivered to polling stations.

    Image: Muhammed Muheisen/Associated Press

  14. Afghan election workers use donkeys to transport ballot boxes and election materials to polling stations.

    Image: Mustafa Najafizada/Associated Press

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সোর্স: http://mashable.com

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