With the help of the USAID-supported UNDP/ELECT program, the number of Afghans registering to vote is rising steadily throughout the country.
Despite violent threats against them and their families, voter registration workers have gained confidence as efforts to protect them improve. USAID and international mentors are working hard to build and strengthen Afghan security forces, and, as a result, officials have become more effective at responding to threats, investigating incidents and communicating with the Independent Election Commission. The majority of registration centers are functioning normally, allowing Afghanistan’s citizens to safely participate in the democratic process.
As of September 2008, approximately 553,512 eligible voters have registered. Thirty-five percent of these are women who were once excluded from the political process. Thanks to better safety and election support, USAID remains optimistic that many more Afghans will register to vote in the coming months.