Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Friday, March 29th, 2024

IEC Records Increase in Turnout at Registration Centers

IEC Records Increase in  Turnout at Registration Centers

KABUL - After a slow start, more people are making their way to voter registration centers to sign up.
In the first two days, following the launch of the process, just over 12,000 people registered, of which 25 percent were women, the IEC commissioner Sayed Hafiz Hashimi said.
Meanwhile, the Meshrano Jirga (Upper House of Parliament) speaker Fazel Hadi Muslimyar visited a registration center in Kabul on Monday and said the success of legitimate and fair elections was rooted in the participation of the people.
He called on all eligible Afghans to register to vote.
“It is compulsory for all of us to consult the voter registration centers and register our IDs,” he said.
“The figures that we have received, in the first two days, show over 12,000 people have registered their names, of which 25 percent were women,” said Hashimi.
“Women’s turnout (on Monday) has increased compared to the last two days, it means as each day passes, the number of male and female voters increase,” said Saadia Gulabzoi, a voter registration officer in Kabul.
“People committed to serving the nation must be elected,” said a Kabul resident who had just registered. 
“It took only two minutes to register,” said another resident of Kabul, Mohammadullah.
Another resident Fazel Ahmad meanwhile said: “Our expectation is that people should come and participate in the elections.”
The IEC has said that greater participation in the elections will prevent vote-rigging and fraud in the elections.
According to IEC officials, Kabul has 374 voter registration centers. Officials said they hoped 37,000 people would register at these centers every day.
The IEC has so far established 1,419 voter registration centers across the country and estimated the cost of the voter registration process will be $30 million USD. The commission has hired over 11,000 people for the duration of the registration process.
The IEC and government have earmarked 7,300 polling centers across the country, however, nearly 1,000 of these centers are located in areas out of government’s control. (Tolo news)