Campaign for elections begins in Afghanistan

KABUL -- The electoral campaign for the Oct 20 Afghan parliamentary and district councils elections began Friday across the country.

Around 2,691 candidates from 33 out of 34 provinces (excluding Ghazni) will stand for the parliament's 249 seats, another milestone in the war-torn country's electoral history.

Elections in eastern Ghazni province are reportedly delayed by Afghan Election Commission (IEC) for some reasons, including lack of female candidates for district councils' seats.

Based on the electoral timeline, the election campaign for districts councils' nominees will start on Oct 3.

The first parliamentary election in the post-Taliban Afghanistan was held in 2005 while the second parliamentary polls took place in 2010.

However, the third parliamentary polls, originally set to be held in early 2015 following presidential elections, were repeatedly delayed.

The electoral campaign will end on Oct 17 to give way to a two-day election silence.

In accordance with the Afghan electoral law, a series of principles and restrictions must be respected by the candidates, including the neutrality of organization and places for holding speeches, the impartiality of the national and private media, and transparency of the election campaign at the level of funding sources, as well as equity and equality of opportunity among all candidates.

Over 9 million registered voters, including 3 million women, will cast their ballots to elect members of Wolesi Jirga or lower house of parliament for a five-year term while they will also vote to elect members of the district councils.