The people of Afghanistan take another step toward a democratically elected permanent government when they vote in their country’s first direct presidential election October 9.

More than 10.5 million Afghans have registered to vote, 41.5 percent of whom are women. Voters will choose from a list of 18 candidates, representing an array of ethnic groups and political parties and including one female candidate. Parliamentary elections are expected in spring 2005.

In a July 9 statement, President Bush said that Afghanistan's presidential and parliamentary elections "mark a critical step forward in Afghanistan's transition to democracy. The decision is a sign that the Afghan people will not allow the Taliban and other terrorist elements to stand in the way of their democratic future. The United States will fully support the Afghan Government as it prepares to hold these historic elections."