Chairperson of Afghan Independent Election Commission (IEC) Hawa Alam Nuristani speaks during a press conference in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Sept. 25, 2019. The chairperson on Wednesday urged Afghans to use their franchise in electing a new president during upcoming polls this week. (Xinhua/Rahmatullah Alizadah)

KABUL, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chairperson of Afghan Independent Election Commission (IEC) Hawa Alam Nuristani on Wednesday urged Afghans to use their franchise in electing a new president during upcoming polls this week.

"The IEC is fully ready to conduct the presidential polls on Saturday. I call on all eligible Afghans to take part in Saturday's presidential election and cast their votes," the chairperson told reporters at a press conference.

The top election official said that IEC has taken all necessary measures to ensure transparency of the polls as the past Afghan elections were allegedly marred with widespread irregularities and fraud.

She added that all sensitive electoral materials have been dispatched to the country's 34 provinces.

Deputy Interior Minister Khoshal Sadat said at the same press conference that Afghan security forces were deployed to all polling centers Wednesday morning across the country to ensure security for election process.

The Taliban insurgent group fighting the government has vowed to disrupt the election process.

A total of 18 contesters registered to run for the presidency with a five-year term and among the candidates are sitting President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah.

More than 9 million eligible voters are expected to cast their ballots during the Sept. 28 election.