It's better than nothing
Ask the non-white South Africans.
There must be a literate population, which at least implies a widespread educational system. People need to understaned more than the "bites" which come with TV.
We don't have that last bit here in the US (although we do still sort-of have a free press).
And I find the statistics geoff quoted about the Afghani turnout to be interestingly similar to the last presidential election here. [sarc] Perhaps we've done a better job of creating an American-style democracy in Afghanistan that we thought... [/sarc]