Fifteen polling centers out of 81 total in Zabul province will be closed on the upcoming election day due to security threats, local officials said on Sunday.
The Acting Governor of Zabul, Mohmmad Jan Rasoulyar said the polling centers will be close due to "high security threat," but Afghan forces will try to provide security for the 15 polling centers before the April elections.
"The polling centers would be close in Arghandab, Shahjoy, Shamlozi and Naw Bahar districts of the province and the security organisations said that one of the reasons is lack of Afghan security forces," he said.
More than 400 of 6,845 total polling stations nationwide are under serious security threats from insurgents.
On Saturday, the head of the National Directorate of Security (NDS), Rahmatullah Nabil, said the insurgent groups are actively trying to destabilize the Presidential and Provincial Council elections.
"The enemies of the people of Afghanistan are trying to create problems, but I am sure that they can do nothing as long as the security forces are working together," Nabil said.
Security officials recently submitted a report to President Hamid Karzai that assured over 90 percent of polling centers would be open on election day.
One of the biggest fears heading into April is that insecurity around the country could keep voters from turning up to the polls or open the door to manipulation and fraud.