KABUL - The Independent Election Commission (IEC) announced preliminary results of the presidential election Saturday evening with Abdullah Abdullah leading with 44.9 percent. Presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai is trailing with 31.5 percent and Zalmai Rassoul still behind with 11.5 percent and Sayyaf in fourth with 7.1 percent. Preliminary results tonight were made up of 100 percent of votes casted across the country, Head of IEC Ahmad Yusuf Nuristani said saying that the total number of voters announced this evening was roughly seven million; exactly 6,892,816 votes. Preliminary results of Afghan elections roughly seven million votes, 64 percent of the voters were male and 36 percent were female. During the announcement Nuristani said from what they have analyzed so far, there might be a possibility of a runoff. "From what we have examined so far, we just might go into a runoff," he said. "But we hope not." He added that if runoffs were to take place, it will be held on June 7, 2014.To avoid a runoff, a presidential candidate must attain 50 plus one percent of total votes. Runoff is tentatively scheduled for May 28, but IEC has stated on their website that they will publish a separate timeline for runoff.

This past Thursday, IEC released a third round of partial results with Abdullah Abdullah leading with 43.8 percent, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai trailing with 32.9 percent and Zalmai Rassoul behind with 11.7 percent.

Thursday's results was made up of roughly six million votes, about 82.59 percent; exactly 5,857,442 votes.

IEC delayed preliminary results for two days to thoroughly assess ballots. (Tolonews)