BALKH - Election fever is sweeping the north of the country from Balkh to Jawzjan, Faryab and Sar-i-Pul.

This election will be decisive for the future of Afghanistan, everybody knows it.

But the main question remains: Who’s the next president?

The debate across Afghanistan has been vibrant, democratic and full of passion with posters of the candidates along the streets and even small photos stuck on the windows of cars.

The surroundings of the famous and historical Blue Mosque of Mazar-i-Sharif became the favourite place of candidates for their gatherings in the northern during the campaign.

People from all across the region came to listen to the speeches of their favourite candidate with more than 20,000 people attending meetings here.

“I’ve never seen that,” said one resident of Mazar. “In 2005, the debate was not that huge. This year, because of the number of candidates, their very different ideas, and the decisiveness of this period for our country, nobody wants to miss even a minute of this electoral campaign,” he added.

Even in some remote areas which are usually not involved in the democratic process, people are aware what’s going on.

The Independent Election Commission (IEC) deployed more than 350 civic educators across the region.

“We want this election to be a huge and popular mainstream,” said one IEC official. “The democratic process has to be highlighted. It is very important to show that Afghanistan is able to organize free, fair and, most of all, credible presidential and provincial council elections.”

“Almost two million voters have collected their registration card in the northern region,” the IEC official said. “This shows the popular impact of the 2009 elections. We have the chance here to have a very good security, so we expect people to vote massively on the 20 August,” he added.

Today the north appears calm as Afghans across the country celebrate the 90th anniversary of independence from Britain - tomorrow the people vote.

By Alexandre Brecher-Dolivet, UNAMA