Election day in Afghanistan as Patria's ballots are printed

As millions of Afghans defied the Taliban's death threats to vote in elections that would choose a successor to retiring president Hamid Karzai, US Secretary of State John Kerry said the "vote demonstrates how committed the Afghan people are to protecting and advancing their democracy." He added that the United States "remains ready to work with the next president of Afghanistan." The voter turnout was so high that some polling stations ran out of ballots.

Riding on a donkey, Patria's 50th Congress ballot papers are on their way!

Meanwhile in Patria, there are less than two weeks remaining in the 50th Congress election campaign. All the parties, from the mighty Amrita, SRM, Chakra and NU to the one-seater nutbars are hitting the hustings hard for the final push toward April 19. The ballots with as many as 23 parties to choose from (your choices may vary depending on your Precinct) have been printed and are in the process of being delivered to polling stations across Patria. Most will arrive by truck, but in some remote areas of Patria, as in Afghanistan, the ballots and ballot boxes will be transported by the symbol of the US Democratic Party - the trusty donkey!