Language

Don't you have an account with Pajhwok Afghan News?

Click here to subscribe.

Preliminary results confirm need for audit: EU EAT

Preliminary results confirm need for audit: EU EAT

author avatar
11 Jul 2014 - 10:43
Preliminary results confirm need for audit: EU EAT
author avatar
11 Jul 2014 - 10:43

KABUL) of preliminary results of the presidential run-off, and welcomed the publication online of detailed results per polling station.

The EU EAT in a statement the other day said Afghan voters have the right to see their votes respected, and the candidates are entitled to a full investigation on the serious allegations of fraud, outlined by the election administration and other relevant stakeholders.

EU Chief Observer Thijs Berman noted that “at this stage of the analysis of the preliminary results, and without an in-depth audit, the final result is as yet uncertain and it is not possible to declare a winner, given the very high number of votes yet to be validated or annulled.”

Analysis of the data on all polling stations, provided by the IEC, showed a very high number of inconsistencies. As yet, polling stations where one candidate obtained extremely high scores, e.g. 90% and above have not been audited. This affected one third of the polling stations and 4.2 million votes, which is a highly worrying proportion.

The number of audited polling stations – mainly those with an exceptionally high turnout exceeding 599 ballots – does not match the significantly higher level of inconsistencies identified by the EU EAT in its analysis of the preliminary results.

Indeed, the audit mechanism was not sufficient to identify proxy voting, ballot stuffing, early shortages of ballot papers, and other illegal acts or unusual events. The EU EAT observes that out of 2,229 problematic polling stations, only 135 were excluded from the preliminary results after the conduct of an unsatisfactory, hasty, audit conducted at provincial level.

Berman said: “The EU EAT encourages the election authorities to carry out, in Kabul, a comprehensive and transparent audit of the results in a neutral environment and in close cooperation with all the stakeholders as well as to concentrate audit efforts on the polling stations with very high turnouts, and the polling stations where nearly all the votes were cast in favor of a sole candidate.”

The votes of women should also be protected. The list of the female polling stations, where men were in charge of the polling and counting, should lead to further investigations.

pr/rm

Visits: 0

GET IN TOUCH

SUGGEST A STORY

Pajhwok is interested in your story suggestions. Please tell us your thoughts by clicking here.

PAJHWOK MOBILE APP

Download our mobile application to get the latest updates on your mobile phone. Read more