UN instructor Azize Kheirandish (right) trains an Afghan election staff on Wednesday, October 6. (Photo: AP Wide World/Hasan Sarbakhshian)

October 11—For the first time in the history of their country, Afghans are voting in a democratic presidential election. On Saturday, October 9, millions of Afghans will head to the polls to cast their ballot for one of 16 candidates.

Most observers expect current President Hamid Karzai to win the election. But picking a leader is not the only reason to vote. It's a way for many Afghans to show that their nation, tattered by years of war, is ready to take a step away from their violent past and toward a more stable future.

"If things go well for the Afghans, their apparent desire to make a real break with the past might happen," said journalist Philip Kennicott, who has been reporting from Afghanistan for the Washington Post.

Safety at the Polls

Human rights groups are concerned that many citizens won't have the chance to make their own choice. Afghans have been urged or threatened by local leaders to vote for certain candidates. About 100,000 security officers will be posted throughout the country to keep an eye on the voting booths.

The old government, the Taliban, was overthrown by American-led military forces in November of 2001. The Taliban were brutal and severe rulers. The U.S. went to war against them because they allowed terrorists, including Osama bin Laden, to operate in their country.

Officials are on guard against attacks by the Taliban and others who oppose the election. On Friday, a series of rocket attacks by Afghans loyal to the former government killed six people and wounded many others.

"Are [the polls] going to be perfect? No. Are they going to be marred by violence? Yes," said Major General Eric Olson, the No. 2 commander in Afghanistan. "But we are seeing things happening now that we couldn't imagine a year ago, or two years ago, and certainly not around 9/11."

Counting the Votes

Once the last ballot has been cast, Afghans face another hurdle: counting them. Afghanistan is a rugged country with few good roads. Getting the votes to a place where they can be safely tallied will be tough, so election organizers have to be creative.

In the mountainous northeast, donkey caravans will lug boxes of ballots over the mountains. In the still-violent south, helicopters will whisk votes to a sports stadium in Kandahar.

The election results may not be announced for a couple of weeks or even months. But when a winner is declared, it will be a historic moment.

"Democracy is a baby in Afghanistan," said Ahmed Wali Karzai, who is campaigning for his brother, President Karzai.