The key to the Afghani election...

is... A DONKEY. Nope, not me. But more a whole pack of rent-a-donkeys that are used to haul the ballots around in treacherous terrain.

But even in areas with roads, many villages can be reached only by footpaths. Those ballots will be delivered by brigades of donkeys, which election officials rent from local farmers. At the price of $60 per donkey — the monthly salary for a night watchman at a public school — there are many willing participants. Well, to be honest $60 a day won't quite entice this donkey... but you never know.