KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN)  -- Welcome to democracy, Afghan-style. An Afghan woman in a burqa veil holds up a photograph of President Hamid Karzai. An incumbent president and 38 challengers, including two women, are vying for the votes of 17 million registered Afghans against a backdrop of war, graft, poverty and illiteracy. More than 3,000 donkeys, 3,000 cars and three helicopters will traverse harsh terrain to carry voting materials to remote polling stations. And 30 observer groups, domestic and international, will be on hand to help guard against fraud. This Thursday, Afghanistan holds its second-ever popular election, the results of which will put into office a new president and 420 provincial council winners. Preliminary results are scheduled September 3, with final results expected two weeks later.
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More than 17 million Afghans are registered to vote
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Elections are scheduled amid increasing violence
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A key issue for voters is government corruption
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Some observers concerned elections will be neither fair nor free
As though to serve reminder of the high stakes, @placeholder came under attack again on Tuesday -- just two days before the polls open.