KABUL -- Afghan authorities and the United Nations, supported by U.S.-led international forces, began distributing millions of ballots, tamper-proof ink and equipment for a runoff presidential election on Nov. 7.

Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission decided to cut the number of polling stations that will be open during the runoff, officials said. The closings will be in areas where the central government has no control and the security threat is high -- and where, according to observers, ballot boxes were stuffed...