IEC to begin registering candidates for Presidential election next week

The Independent Election Commission (IEC) says the registration process of candidates for presidential elections will begin next week (Dec. 22).

According to the timeline of the election commission, the registration process of eligible candidates for presidential elections will start on December 22 and will end on January 2, 2019.

Mirza Aqparast, a Deputy Spokesman of the IEC said that they have prepared the operational plan for the presidential poll and that ready to kick off registering the candidates.

Aqparast assured that the delay in declaring the final results of the parliamentary election will not affect the process. The official also informed of the commission’s plan to start the voter registration process for the elections.

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IEC resumes recounting of Kabul votes

Foll Amid tensions with electoral complaints body, the Independent Election Commission (IEC) on Wednesday resumed recounting of the votes of parliamentary elections for Kabul.

The IEC  Deputy Spokesman Zabiullah Sadat said that the commission resumed the recounting process with a new method which includes changes in the number of observers and audit teams.

The electoral complaints commission (IECC), meanwhile, said that the IEC should provide them with evidence and documents regarding Kabul votes and that use a new mechanism in this regard, adding that thereafter, the commission will reconsider its decision of invalidating the votes of parliamentary elections for Kabul.

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IEC postpones results of Parliamentary election

The Independent Election Commission (IEC) has postponed the preliminary results of the last month’s parliamentary polls.

The results were expected to be announced on November 10, but it has been delayed to at least 10 days.

The IEC cited issues in “filtration and transportation process” of ballots over the delay.

“The preliminary results [from the vote] in all provinces except Kabul will be announced on November 23, and the results from Kabul will be revealed on the first day of next month,” said Sayed Hafizullah Hashimi, a Spokesman for the IEC.

He said based on the law, final results will be revealed a month after the preliminary results.

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IEC punishes 52 candidates for launching early election campaigns

The Independent Election Commission (IEC) has imposed cash penalty ranging from 30,000 to 100,000 AFN fine on 52 parliamentary elections’ candidates who began their election campaign ahead of the scheduled timing.

Addressing a press conference on Friday in Kabul, the head of the IEC media committee, Rafai Rafiq Sediqui said the candidates have been penalized for launching their campaign before the scheduled timing on social media or banners and placards in some parts of Kabul.

The official added that the electoral law allows them to make warnings, penalize or refer the offenders to judiciary institutions with the agreement of the Independent Electoral Complaint Commission (IECC).

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Efforts underway to use Biometric System in election day

The Independent Election Commission (IEC) says serious efforts are underway to use the biometric system in the Election Day.

“We have made our efforts to use the biometric system in the Election Day and to recognize every voters that cannot vote for the second time,” Abdul Badi Sayad, the chairman of IEC said.

However, a number of parties claim that they have not negotiated regarding the biometric system with IEC officials and called for holding a tripartite meeting among the government, parties and the company which prepares the system’s technology.

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Over 9 million ballot papers being printed for parliamentary polls

The Independent Election Commission (IEC) on Saturday said that more than nine million ballot papers for the upcoming parliamentary election would be printed outside the country.

The IEC did not name the country where the ballot papers are expected to be printed, but reports suggest that the design of the ballot papers has already been sent to Dubai, UAE for printing.

Hafizullah Hashimi, a commissioner of the IEC said that the ballot papers being sent outside the country for printing as a move to prevent fraud and ensure transparency in the election process.

“The commission has taken the decision to print [the ballot papers] outside Afghanistan, in order to ensure its safety and quality, and maintain the trust of the people & the candidates,” he said.

The election observers, however, pessimistic regarding the IEC’s this move, saying it will pave way for massive fraud in the election process.

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58 people arrested on charges of forgery in voter registration process

At least 58 people have been arrested on charges of forgery in voter registration process for the upcoming parliamentary and district councils elections.

A spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office Jamshid Rasuli told reporters that investigations are underway regarding the 24 cases of alleged forgery in the voters registration process.

Rasuli further added that 58 people have been arrested on forgery charges including using fake national identity cards/Tazkiras and  sale of national identity cards.

According to Jamshedi, an employee of the independent election commission has also been arrested in connection to the alleged forgery.

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Very few willing to run for district council elections

The Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan (IEC) on Wednesday raised concerns over the lack of candidates registered to run in the upcoming district council elections. 

In some districts not even a single candidate has filed nomination papers to run in the elections, said the IEC.

IEC statistics meanwhile indicate that 3,058 people registered to run in the district council elections across Afghanistan.

Based on the law, there should be 2,800 representatives in the district councils.

According to the IEC, some districts in Uruzgan, Paktika, Paktia, Kunar, Kandahar, Helmand, Badghis and Laghman have not one candidate.

IEC chief Gula Jan Abdul Badi Sayyad said that insecurity in these regions has been the key factor behind the low candidate registration turnout in the districts. 

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Candidate registration for upcoming elections to begin on Saturday

Registration of candidates for parliamentary and district council elections will begin on Saturday (May 26), the Independent Election Commission (IEC) announced Thursday.

According to IEC, the registration process would begin in two days and continue until June 12 across the country.

Afghan citizen, who is 25 or over, can register his name and contest the legislative polls. Moreover, the candidates should bear 1,000 followers; education plays no role in their candidacy status.

“No one can get official candidacy status before announcement of the final list of candidates by the election commission,” said Hafizullah Hashimi, a member of the IEC.

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Dawlati: President threatened IEC members to resign

The deputy of Independent Election Commission (IEC), Maozullah Dawlati says President has pressed and threatened the commission’s members to resign from their positions.

Speaking at a debate program in Ariananews TV, Dawlati revealed the intervention of President Ghani in election commission’s affairs.

“President Ghani in presence of U.S. ambassador and UN envoy for Afghanistan has threatened those IEC members who were opposed to attaching stickers on copy of ID cards,” Dawlati said.

In the meantime, the former chairman of IEC Fazel Ahmad Manawi called President’s intervention in election commission’s affairs a “national conspiracy”.

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