Afghans went to the polls to choose legislative representatives in what President Hamid Karzai called a defining moment in the nation's struggle to rebuild.

Despite threats of violence and calls for boycotts by supporters of he toppled Taliban regime, voter turnout appeared to be heavy on Sunday.

"We are making history," Karzai said as he cast his ballot in the landmark polls.

"It's the day of self-determination for the Afghan people. After 30 years of wars, interventions, occupations and misery, today Afghanistan is moving forward, making an economy, making political institutions."

Some 12.4 million Afghans were registered to vote for the national legislature and provincial assemblies at more than 6,000 polling stations.

The voting venues include schools, mosques and in some remote areas, tents.

With nearly three-quarters of the Afghan population illiterate, voting was slow as people waded through ballots up to seven pages long, with almost 400 candidates for the parliament alone.

Each voter, including Karzai, dipped a finger in indelible purple ink to prevent repeat voting.

In Kandahar, the Taliban's homeland, women turned out in droves to vote, ignoring traditions that forbid them from appearing in public.

"I'm so happy the woman came from outside the home and give the vote," said female parliamentary candidate Shahida Hussain, one of 582 such candidates. "I am more happy today for my country."

While the campaign had been hotly contested in many centres, officials said the turnout was less than last year's presidential vote -- although official figures wouldn't be available until Monday.

Security tight

Some praised the security measures to protect voters and polling stations.

"The security situation is very, very, very good," said Faisal Rahim, a doctor.

Thousands of Afghan and foreign forces -- including Canadians -- were on high alert to thwart any attempts by militants to disrupt the election process.

In Kandahar, checkpoints were heavily manned, only essential vehicles were allowed on the streets and everyone entering a poll was carefully searched for explosives and firearms.

Canadian troops helped provide that security.

"They're really happy and thankful," said Sgt. Mike Rude of CFB Edmonton. "A lot of thumbs-up. A lot of smiles, a lot of waves. It's been pretty good."

While there wasn't violent chaos, there were violent incidents. About 15 people died across the country.

No one was killed at a polling station, although there had been some small-arms attacks on some stations in the preceding 24 hours that left a few people wounded.

About 16 stations were unable to open because of security concerns.

Meanwhile, the voting came amid reports of voting irregularities.

An Associated Press Television News cameraman reported seeing women handing their ballots to men to fill out at a voting centre east of Kabul. AP reports the electoral officials looked on but did not intervene.

In a dispatch from a province northeast of Kabul, Human Rights Watch reported that children appeared to have voted at one polling station.

The organization also reported seeing some illiterate voters asking electoral officials to point out candidates on ballots.

The elections for a new parliament and 34 provincial councils are the last formal step for Afghanistan on the path to democracy planned with international support after U.S.-led forces toppled the Taliban regime four years ago.

Final results are due in early October, but partial results will be released once 20 per cent of a province's ballots are counted. 

"It will be weeks before the votes are actually tallied, there are literally thousands of candidates across the country," CTV's Matt McClure reported from Kandahar, appearing on Newsnet.

"I guess the question on many people's minds is: Who is going to be elected? Many of these people have no experience in politics. How is this new assembly actually going to work?"

It's the second time the nation is holding elections for a second time in less than a year.

The Oct. 24, 2004 presidential election was the first, during which incumbent leader Karzai clinched a majority of votes.

With a report from CTV's Matt McClure