The elections for the lower house of Parliament, the Wolesi Jirga, are scheduled for September 18. The campaign is already underway, with more than 2500 candidates registered throughout the country. In Kabul alone, over 620 hopefuls are on the campaign trail.

Residents of the Kabul share their concerns over the poll with www.afghanistanvotes.com. In most instances, it is security, the threat to the physical safety of voters that weighs in their minds. During the presidential elections in 2009, insurgents carried out threats to cut off the fingers and in a few cases, noses, of those who dared to go to the polls. Many stayed home out of fear. Other capital dwellers think that fraud will play a deciding role in the elections, and do not want to participate.

Kabul’s potential voters are weighing their options.

Sadiq Ahmadzai, 35: “Security is vital for a transparent election. It will be very difficult to have free, fair and transparent elections where the opposition threatens people and there is no safety. Residents in insecure areas will not be able to vote; they could face problems with the Taliban, or lose body parts. It may be completely impossible for women to vote.”

Farid, 40, resident of Mosahi district in Kabul province: “It will be difficult for the IEC (Independent Election Commission) to go into insecure areas. If that is so, they cannot conduct a transparent election as required. During the presidential elections there were areas where there were no IEC personnel present, only the ballot boxes. The boxes were stuffed in favor of a particular candidate.”

Jawad Tassal, 20, student at Kabul University, Faculty of Political Science: “Fraud will be the main problem. Last year the supporters of the two main candidates perpetrated widespread fraud and filled the ballot boxes in favor of their own candidates in the areas they controlled. Some regional IEC officers were also allegedly involved in this process.

“Even if security is tight during the elections there will be no valid results until these abuses are eliminated. The majority of the candidates are warlords or have illegal weapons. They have their own high-ranking people in government. Those with power and authority can come easily to the Parliament; they do not need votes. I doubt the elections will be transparent and I do not want to participate.”

Abdullah Hamdard: “Without security, it is impossible to have fair and transparent elections. In order to have a powerful legislative branch, we need capable, talented candidates. People should not select their representatives based on ethnic relations.”

Zabiullah Adel, 30: “Corruption and fraud are the main problems for the Wolesi Jirga elections. High-ranking officials of this corrupt government may campaign for their friends. If the government does not prevent this, candidates may illegally use government resources, which will bring the transparency of the elections into question.”

Haji Zainuddin, 70: “”The first challenge is insecurity. If the government cannot even guarantee security in the capital, how can they do it in isolated areas? The second challenge is fraud. People with money and power can come to the Parliament easily. We have examples of this in the current Parliament. Third, each candidate is only concerned with his or her own benefits. During the campaign they will make many promises, but when they are in office they forget the people.”

Wahid, 35: “I do not want to participate in the Wolesi Jirga because of electoral abuses.”