Despite major security threats facing the upcoming April elections, Afghans expect the vote to happen on time and transparently. Considering the importance of the elections to country's future, many are adamant about participating yet guarded about what could happen if things go wrong.
The year 2014 will see the NATO coalition withdraw as well as Afghanistan's potentially first democratic transition of Presidential power in history. If the elections go well, they could confirm the progress of the past decade and lay the road for continued growth. If they go badly, stability could be an issue, with many expressing fears of renewed civil war.
"The elections should be conducted on schedule because Afghanistan would enter into a new crisis if the elections are not held on time," a local Kabul resident named Gul Rahim told TOLOnews.
People do have major apprehensions about insecurity, and how it could harm the transparency of the elections.
"Although, I have some reservations about insecurity, we have no other option except casting ballots in the upcoming elections," a resident from Herat province said.
Election officials and security forces have worked tirelessly to secure voter registration centers, polling sites and candidates over the past few months. There have been a number of major attacks on Independent Election Commission (ECC) personnel and still thousands of polling sites are said to be threatened.
But many Afghans said they would participate in the elections despite the security issues.
"I will participate in the elections, I think the election is the only way to have a peaceful transition of power," a resident of northern Balkh province said.
While Afghans anticipate with a mix of fear and hope, it is important to remember that election processes are challenging even in some advanced countries where democracy has existed for centuries.
The 2009 Presidential election may serve as an example of the worst case scenario in Afghanistan, where widespread fraud and other electoral improprieties were well-documented and well-known.