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Observers See Ambiguity Around IECC’s Decision on Disputed Votes

Members of electoral monitoring institutions said on Monday they see ambiguity around a decision by the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) on auditing part of the 300,000 disputed that will eventually provide the way for the announcement of final results of the September presidential polls.

A document seen by TOLOnews shows that the IECC has ordered a special audit for votes from 2,126 polling stations out of a total of 2,423 polling stations while it has decided to validate votes from 297 polling stations. The 2,423 polling stations encompass votes which have not been registered biometrically, according to IECC.

Observers and members of protesting campaign teams said that the IECC has made a decision to validate non-biometric votes based on their QR code, not based on a stamp in the data center. The observers said this decision needs clarification and that any “misuse” in this respect should be prevented.

They say that several parts of these decisions are not clear and that the entity should explain further to prevent exploitation.

“We have said many times that the electoral complaints commission should give clarifications to the people on its decisions but less clarification has been provided in this respect,” said Yusuf Rasheed, head of Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan.

“Some of their decisions have problems,” said Naeem Ayubzada, head of the Transparent Election Foundation of Afghanistan.

This decision was also criticized by two campaign teams.

“If it was approved by the device it is okay but if it is rejected (by the device) it will be removed,” said Fazl Ahmad Manawi, member of Abdullah Abdullah’s campaign team.

“The complaints commission has not considered legal terms in its decision,” said Matiullah Ibrahimzada, member of Rahmatullah Nabil’s campaign team.

The IECC members did not give details on their decisions but reiterated that their decisions have been made after consultations within the intuitions and based on the election law.

“We will go ahead with those decisions,” said Habib Rahman Nang, head of the secretariat of the Independent Election Commission.

“Our decisions are very clear and they do not need for explanation,” said Qutbuddin Roydar, an IECC member.

Based on the IECC’s final decision, the commission will undertake a special audit of the 309 polling stations that yielded the 137,000 votes. If 65% of 309 polling stations complete the accepted criteria, then the IECC will recognize the total 137,000 votes as credible, but if these polling stations do not meet 35% of the IECC’s criteria, then all 137,000 votes will go for special audit.

Based on the IECC’s decision, the commission will also undertake the special audit of 1103 polling stations that yielded 102,000 votes that were allegedly cast either before or after the legal hours for voting on election day. If the special audit completed meets 65% of the IECC’s criteria, then the total 102,000 votes will be recognized as credible votes.

Observers See Ambiguity Around IECC’s Decision on Disputed Votes

IECC members said that their decisions on the disputed votes do not need further explanation.

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Members of electoral monitoring institutions said on Monday they see ambiguity around a decision by the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) on auditing part of the 300,000 disputed that will eventually provide the way for the announcement of final results of the September presidential polls.

A document seen by TOLOnews shows that the IECC has ordered a special audit for votes from 2,126 polling stations out of a total of 2,423 polling stations while it has decided to validate votes from 297 polling stations. The 2,423 polling stations encompass votes which have not been registered biometrically, according to IECC.

Observers and members of protesting campaign teams said that the IECC has made a decision to validate non-biometric votes based on their QR code, not based on a stamp in the data center. The observers said this decision needs clarification and that any “misuse” in this respect should be prevented.

They say that several parts of these decisions are not clear and that the entity should explain further to prevent exploitation.

“We have said many times that the electoral complaints commission should give clarifications to the people on its decisions but less clarification has been provided in this respect,” said Yusuf Rasheed, head of Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan.

“Some of their decisions have problems,” said Naeem Ayubzada, head of the Transparent Election Foundation of Afghanistan.

This decision was also criticized by two campaign teams.

“If it was approved by the device it is okay but if it is rejected (by the device) it will be removed,” said Fazl Ahmad Manawi, member of Abdullah Abdullah’s campaign team.

“The complaints commission has not considered legal terms in its decision,” said Matiullah Ibrahimzada, member of Rahmatullah Nabil’s campaign team.

The IECC members did not give details on their decisions but reiterated that their decisions have been made after consultations within the intuitions and based on the election law.

“We will go ahead with those decisions,” said Habib Rahman Nang, head of the secretariat of the Independent Election Commission.

“Our decisions are very clear and they do not need for explanation,” said Qutbuddin Roydar, an IECC member.

Based on the IECC’s final decision, the commission will undertake a special audit of the 309 polling stations that yielded the 137,000 votes. If 65% of 309 polling stations complete the accepted criteria, then the IECC will recognize the total 137,000 votes as credible, but if these polling stations do not meet 35% of the IECC’s criteria, then all 137,000 votes will go for special audit.

Based on the IECC’s decision, the commission will also undertake the special audit of 1103 polling stations that yielded 102,000 votes that were allegedly cast either before or after the legal hours for voting on election day. If the special audit completed meets 65% of the IECC’s criteria, then the total 102,000 votes will be recognized as credible votes.

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