Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission said initial results based on 10 percent of the vote from 26 out of 34 provinces showed former opposition leader Abdullah Abdullah in the lead with 41.9 percent.
Hundreds who have turned out to vote in the Afghan elections are "literally voting with their lives", Chatham House Afghan Researcher Hameed Hakimi told ITV News.
Mr Hakimi said that the big turnout, in which an estimated seven million people came out to vote, will "help put pressure on the establishment to respond to people's expectations".
The Democratic presidential candidate may also have shown his cards on his choice of running mate.
The US president also shared a post on Twitter accusing Dr Anthony Fauci of misleading the public over hydroxychloroquine.
Fears over an impending second wave of coronavirus dominates Wednesday’s front pages.