Formerly when electoral process was underway, the exercise of democratic right to vote of people was worth observing; large number of people lined to their nearest polling stations, waiting passionately to ease their favorite candidate to presidential palace. According to IEC census more than seven million Afghans voted in the landmark presidential election last weekend which, if successful, will usher in the first democratic handover of power in the country’s history as Karzai prepares to step down after more than 12 years in office.
The vote count was previously in progression might lead to imminent declaration of non-confirmed result. If none of the candidates gets more than 50 per cent, a runoff will be held, at the earliest in late May, thus the wait for a winner to be declared will be delayed.
The masses already pressed hard by insecurity and economical crisis have aligned their anticipations to fair and transparent election that has to do away their grievances. Subsequent to finalization of voting, during counting session, any ill-intend to produce a forged result might take off the trust instilled to democratic setup. Similar reservations are put forth by election observers. Presidential and provincial council election observers asked the Afghanistan Independent Election Commission (IEC) to act neutrally and responsibly during the vote-count process on Thursday.
The election certainly ended with large voter turnout amidst negligible report of violence. However it could not evade fraudulence and irregularities. Previously the Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA) unearthed 11,000 incidents of fraud, irregularities, militant threats and closure of polling stations during elections. According to reports of the watchdog 9,500 cases of electoral fraud, including 2,600 of a serious nature were reported. According to FEFA 141 ballot boxes had been stuffed in favor of a particular candidate and 997 cases were related to underage voting, 323 cases were about militant threats to polling stations and 437 incidents about the closure of election sites owing to insecurity.
Amongst the other issues of great concerns were, the use of female voter cards by males at 507 polling sites in different areas and poor quality ineffaceable ink was used. There were 209 cases of poor quality election ink. These are electoral irregularities of genuine type. In many polling stations observers were barred from monitoring the voting process at some polling centers. According to FEFA report 297 observers were not allowed to monitor the election process and 2,305 polling sites were opened late and 1,727 sites remained open beyond the official closing time.
The large number of irregularities reported is deliberate violation of electoral laws. The IEC must exercise high degree of perseverance and integrity, compiling advertent and agreeable results. It is only feasible the reported cases of fraud and irregularities are given prior attention.