Scenes from an election in Kabul

"I know the security situation of my country is not good, but I have made my decision to come and cast my vote anyway," said Shukran Ahmad, 32, as he waited, dressed in pale blue traditional robes, at a polling center in western Kabul. "I wanted to be the first person to vote today in this polling center."

Another Kabul polling center, one that swarmed with voters in the 2004 election, opened on time at 7 a.m. -- but with no voters. The owner of a shop nearby did not see the point in casting his ballot. "I am not voting. It won't change anything in our country," said Mohammad Tahir, 30.

And in eastern Kabul, an explosion and a gunfight with insurgents scared off voters. "There is a polling center inside this mosque, but nobody is crazy enough to go there. It's better to stay at home," said Mohammad Aslam, a 30-year-old construction supplies salesman.

In this relatively safe area and a stronghold of presidential contender Abdullah Abdullah, voters came in a steady stream.

"I was so excited last night. All I could think about was today," said 20-year-old Shahima Haidari, a first-time voter who cast her ballot for Abdullah, saying she has had enough of the incumbent Hamid Karzai.

Enayatullah Stanikzai, a white-bearded man in traditional robes and a black vest, said he believes the president has been a strong leader. "I voted for Hamid Karzai. He's a good person for the future of Afghanistan. He brought unity to our country," he said.

Voters showed up at polling centers despite rocket attacks in the morning.

The Taliban failed to stop the voting in this dusty town in the insurgency's heartland, but it did a good job of putting a scare into everyone who did. A total of 1,683 Afghan men cast ballots in the concrete-brick school that served as the town's main polling place, a number high enough to buoy the spirits of local officials -- despite the district's population of about 80,000. Those who defied the insurgents' threats were almost too nervous to talk. "Until the day I die, I will support this government," one man said, lowering his voice to a whisper and walking away from the polling center. "But there is no security. The Taliban are still strong."

Voters said men were allowed to cast ballots on behalf of their female family members for lack of separate arrangements. Mohammad Zahir Shah, a voter, said he cast 35 votes of female members of his family.