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Issues On Biometric Devices Delay Election Materials Delivery

The process of sending required election materials to provinces has been delayed due to issues around biometric devices, officials of the Independent Election Commission said on Wednesday. 

On Tuesday, the Independent Election Commission confirmed malfunction in biometric devices which will be used in the upcoming presidential election scheduled for September 28.
 
The issue of biometric devices has been shared with the Germany-based firm, Dermalog, and it will be resolved after new software is installed to the devices, IEC commissioner Mawlana Abdullah said.  
 
“We should check biometric devices one by one to avoid repetition of photos and fingerprints and check whether they give errors or no. If it is like that, perhaps our supply operation will be delayed until this issue is resolved,” he said.

The use of biometric devices has been mentioned in the election law in order to ensure a transparent and fair election. 
 
Election observers said the biometric devices purchased from Germany are “not working” properly. 
 
The IEC plans to install the software to 39,544 devices which will be used in the elections across the country, members of the commission said. 
 
“Application has been prepared based on the agreement we had,” said Habiburrahman Nang, head of the IEC secretariat.
 
He said the process of transferring election materials to the provinces will begin once the national and international institutions confirm the credibility of the devices.
 
“The transfer of sensitive election materials will start in the next two days and in accordance with the election commission’s calendar and in coordination with the security forces,” the Acting Minister of Interior Massoud Andarabi said.  
 
TOLOnews reporter Anisa Shaheed who used the biometric devices said the devices record fingerprints and photo of voters but cannot identify repeated fingerprints. 
 
Shaheed said the devices can only detect repeated stamp on voters’ identity cards. 
 
The IEC last year purchased almost 18,000 biometric devices for parliamentary elections from a German company, Dermalog.  

Issues On Biometric Devices Delay Election Materials Delivery

IEC officials said transfer election materials will begin once national and international institutions confirm the credibility of the devices.

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The process of sending required election materials to provinces has been delayed due to issues around biometric devices, officials of the Independent Election Commission said on Wednesday. 

On Tuesday, the Independent Election Commission confirmed malfunction in biometric devices which will be used in the upcoming presidential election scheduled for September 28.
 
The issue of biometric devices has been shared with the Germany-based firm, Dermalog, and it will be resolved after new software is installed to the devices, IEC commissioner Mawlana Abdullah said.  
 
“We should check biometric devices one by one to avoid repetition of photos and fingerprints and check whether they give errors or no. If it is like that, perhaps our supply operation will be delayed until this issue is resolved,” he said.

The use of biometric devices has been mentioned in the election law in order to ensure a transparent and fair election. 
 
Election observers said the biometric devices purchased from Germany are “not working” properly. 
 
The IEC plans to install the software to 39,544 devices which will be used in the elections across the country, members of the commission said. 
 
“Application has been prepared based on the agreement we had,” said Habiburrahman Nang, head of the IEC secretariat.
 
He said the process of transferring election materials to the provinces will begin once the national and international institutions confirm the credibility of the devices.
 
“The transfer of sensitive election materials will start in the next two days and in accordance with the election commission’s calendar and in coordination with the security forces,” the Acting Minister of Interior Massoud Andarabi said.  
 
TOLOnews reporter Anisa Shaheed who used the biometric devices said the devices record fingerprints and photo of voters but cannot identify repeated fingerprints. 
 
Shaheed said the devices can only detect repeated stamp on voters’ identity cards. 
 
The IEC last year purchased almost 18,000 biometric devices for parliamentary elections from a German company, Dermalog.  

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