Afghanistan: General elections to take place October 20

Event

General elections will be held on October 20 to elect 249 members of the National Assembly for a five year term. District-wide voting will offer regional representation in the National Assembly for all parts of Afghanistan. The Independent Electoral Commission aims to register 14 million voters before the election, but as of late May, only 4 million people had been registered. An increase in political rallies is expected in the months and weeks leading up to the vote. Insurgency-related violence remains a threat at registration and voting sites throughout Afghanistan. Heightened security measures and traffic disruptions are anticipated around all electoral related events.

Context

Nationwide, insurgent groups oppose electoral participation and pose a threat to voter security. An April attack at a voters' office in Kabul, claimed by the Islamic State, killed 57 people. In a similar attack in May, a bomb blast at a mosque-turned voting center in Khost killed 14 residents registering to vote in the upcoming elections.

Advice

Individuals in Afghanistan are advised to monitor developments to the situation and to avoid any rallies, protests, or other large public gatherings.

The security environment in Afghanistan remains complex. Although travel is possible in some areas, other areas should be considered strictly off-limits. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel.