EWOA stresses runoff transparency

KABUL (EWOA) on Thursday urged the electoral commissions to not to repeat the mistakes seen in the first round of the polls in the runoff.

EWOA officials presented a series of suggestions to the electoral bodies for holding a fair ballot, including through hiring female employees at women’s polling centres and organising public hearings.

EWOA Director Jandad Spinghar told journalists in Kabul a recurrence of the mistakes committed during the first round of elections would plunge the country into a crisis.

Based on the experience learnt from the previous round, the runoff should be held in a manner acceptable to all, he suggested, identifying the absence of female workers as a serious problem.

“The presence of all male workers at polling centres will minimise women’s participation in the process. On other hand, it will help increase the level of fraud,” Spinghar argued.

He asked the commissions to hold public hearings for a review of electoral objections to deal with multiplicity of complaints from candidates. 

His colleague Asadullah Farzan said: “The electoral bodies should deliver all information in time to block complaints.” He believed timely delivery of information would help the process become fair.  

EWOA spokesperson Painda Mohammad Hikmat said ballot papers for the runoff elections were simpler, easing the procedure. As a result, 600 ballot papers would be completed in half a day.

He urged the election commission to increase the number of ballot papers to 800 for each polling centre and take measures to prevent multiple voting.  

mm/mud

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