KABUL - The Independent Election Commission (IEC) will send its outline for the holding of Afghanistan’s elections to the government in the next day or two, secretary and spokesman, Gula Jan Abdul Badi Sayyad said on Saturday.
Badi says in the IEC outline it is suggested that the number of polling stations in a few provinces be reduced. “Once our first outline about election polling stations is approved, we will prepare the voters rolls which we are already working on,” he said.
Government has meanwhile said the election schedule will be announced in one month.
“In the discussions at the recent meeting in the presidential palace, it was agreed to announce the election schedule for the new year,” said Shah Hussain Murtazawi, deputy spokesman of president.
The institutions overseeing the election process have said many preparatory tasks remained that have to be concluded before the election.
“We want the IEC to consider the situation in detail and plan exact electoral reforms. They should prepare for the election taking into account circumstances in the country,” Yusuf Rasheed, executive director of Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan said.
Lack of budget and insecurity are the most serious challenges leading to the election.
“Electoral commissions still do not have the primary action framework to schedule election,” Barna Salihi, election affairs analyst said.
Government leaders, in a recent meeting with the heads of the electoral commissions and representative of the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan, urged the international community to support Afghanistan financially in holding the next elections. (Tolonews)