BAMYAN (PAN): Most of the people of the province expressed optimism to actively participate in the upcoming elections, but some of the residents preferred to stay away during the ballots due to various problems.
The establishment of voters’ registration centers would cause low participation of people in the elections.
Pajhwok Afghan News conducted interview of as many as 25 women and men of whom only two middle agers said they would not take part because of established rules violations during the process.
Even 50% people won’t cast vote: University students 
Ahmad Hussain, fourth class student at the Bamyan University geology faculty said the problems ahead of the upcoming elections would prevent 50% people from voting. The resident of Waras district said the upcoming presidential elections was a challenge itself because most parts of Bamyan was covered with snow by March of 2014 and the roads connecting the district with center were blocked. He said it would not easy even during the warm season because people would travel miles to reach the voting centers.
I will cast my vote but don’t know whether it is useful: Housewife
Mehjora, 38 from provincial capital said she had participated in previous elections as well but the person she voted for didn’t succeed. “I will participate in the upcoming ballots but hope this time the person I am going to vote will gain victory.” She said this time she would vote a person who would support women and not torturing them like the Taliban.
I will vote a candidate who is supportive to promote poor people’s interests: Cave dweller
Khair Mohammad, 35 from Samangan province said since eight years he has been living in a cave next to the Buddha statue, saying he would cast vote in favour of a contender who feel the miserable condition of hungry people. He went on to say since a decade, his lifestyle didn’t change and hardly find food to feed his family.  “Previously, I voted in favour of President Karzai whose government was good for wealthy people but has done nothing for poor one.” 
Khair Mohammad informed the wage was very low and there was no job and people faced continued cycle of poverty.  The living condition in the caves is very bad. We want a government, which could support poor people. Among the 200 – 300 cave dwellers, the life of no one has changed during the Karzai’s tenure. He said people now knew everything and can differentiate between good and bad.  The ninth class graduate believed presidential and provincial council candidates were not fulfilling their promises. But this time people would differentiate between good and bad. 
If we do not vote then it will decrease women’s role and political partnership: Culturist Woman
Marzia Haidary 34 said if women did not have political partnership then their role would be decreased and deprived of their rights. She said she was interested to cast her vote and asked others to cast theirs as well. As member of a cultural association she said the women folk have more problems during the elections as most of women didn’t manage to cast their votes due to location of voting centers far away from their localities.
The new president should maintain security: Shopkeeper
Mohammad Afzal 45, a shopkeeper in Bamyan city said the upcoming president should focus to maintain security countrywide. Previously, security situation was very good with foreign tourists were coming from UK, Korea and U.S. and with their staying hotels business in Bamyan flourished but the recent insecurities changed everything. He said if the upcoming president focuses on tightening security in the country. He said if security was improved then businesses and bazaars would flourish and joblessness would decrease. He said there was no security challenges in Bamyan city.
I vote in favour of a presidential candidate for maintaining rule of law in country: Student
Joblessness unleash wars: A jobless person
A young wishing not to be named said it was good to have elections but the president should have no prejudice and should not support only his tribe. “I don’t care who is coming as president that’s why I am not going to cast my vote. Because I am not sure the upcoming president would take care of people’s problems.” He noted sometimes youths decide to join the militants in the mountains to have a source of income that’s why joblessness fuel turmoil. 
“If I am jobless then I am illiterate and even youths with BA degrees are standing at city squares in search of finding work. I am not sure whether to vote or not but will decide whether to vote or not,” he concluded.