IEC Reaffirms Commitment To Interference-Free Elections

Fuente: 
Tolo News
Fecha de publicación: 
02 Abr 2014

The Independent Election Commission (IEC) on Wednesday reaffirmed its commitment to preventing any interference that could compromise the integrity of Saturday's presidential and provincial council elections.

“No institution, individual, group or government will be allowed to interfere in the elections,” IEC Chairman Ahmad Yusuf Nuristani said. "The Election Commission will honor its promise to the nation and ensure impartiality in the elections."

Many in Afghanistan and abroad have expressed anxieties about fraud in the upcoming vote given the experience of the 2009 elections, which was marred by ballot box stuffing, as well as ongoing security concerns that could make monitoring the voting process difficult. Fears that President Hamid Karzai could try to hand-pick his successor have also been widely expressed.

But the IEC has assured the public that precautions have been taken to ensure fraud is minimized and that there is transparency in order to prevent potential government favoritism in the election process.

Election officials have confirmed that 265,000 domestic and international observers, including media outlets, have been certified to monitor the elections. Chairman Nuristani added on Wednesday that nearly all election materials have been distributed to centers around the country.

According to the IEC, participation on Saturday is expected to be high, with some experts estimating the voter turnout to number around 13 million people.

Preliminary results from the elections are expected to be announced on April 24 and the final results on May 14.

 

Source/Fuente: http://www.tolonews.com/elections2014/iec-reaffirms-commitment-interfere...