Observers want fraud-tainted poll staff replaced

KABUL) to fire its staffers accused of electoral fraud and increase the number of polling sites in populated areas for the runoff presidential election due on June 14.

Five poll observation bodies on Sunday submitted their recommendations to the electoral commissions, asking them to stay impartial during the second round of vote, provide observers access to polling sites, replace corrupt employees and finish the election process in a timely manner.

Fahim Seddiqi, director of Khat-i-Naw poll observation organisation, said the IEC had been recommended to sack its fraud-tainted employees and did not allow them to perform duty in the second round.

He said such corrupt election officials should be replaced with impartial people to ensure the election was transparent.

Naeem Ayoubzada, Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA) chief, said newly-appointed IEC employees should adhere to neutrality.

He said the appointment of impartial election workers would help prevent electoral fraud to in the runoff vote, asking the electoral bodies to be serious in this regard.

In their recommendations, the observer missions urged the election commissions to open all polling centres on time and allow observers access to the sites.

They also demanded the establishment of more electoral sites in populated areas, saying the IEC website be updated on a daily basis in order to keep the masses informed about the voting process.

mrh/ma

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