On October 9, 2004, Afghanistan will hold its first-ever national election. Voters will choose a president for a five-year term. The election could be prove to be a historic event for a country that has, over the last twenty-five years, suffered Soviet occupation, civil war, failed governance, severe repression of women, and the vicious rule of the Taliban. The prospect of a future dictated by ballots, and not bullets and bombs, is a cause for great hope. Taliban forces and other armed anti-government groups are still trying to disrupt the process by targeting election workers and election sites for attack, and some areas in the south and southeast remain highly unstable. Still, election officials maintain that overall preparations are on track. Afghan and international leaders are vowing that elections will be successful.

The celebrated Swiss-Afghan photographer Zalmai is travelling through Afghanistan with Human Rights Watch's team in Afghanistan documenting the elections. The following photographs were taken in the week before the election.