Vote audit: EWA warns against hasty decisions

KABUL (EWA) on Monday said more transparency in all stages of the vote audit and invalidation process could guarantee success of the electoral process and warned against making decisions in haste.

EWA spokesman Painda Hikmat told Pajhwok Afghan News that they believed the completion of the vote audit process was not only vital for political stability but had a direct impact on credibility of the results and people’s trust in the elections.

He said at a time when the audit and invalidation process had entered its final stages, more focus and transparency could guarantee success of the entire electoral episode. Any haste and irresponsible attitude during these stages of the process could severally damage legitimacy of the process, he said.

The Independent Election Commission (IEC) has said the vote audit and invalidation process would be completed within a few days and the final results to be announced soon would expose those involved in rigging.

The commission also said final decisions had been taken on votes from 3076 polling centres so far, cancelling more than 100,000 votes cast in 450 ballot boxes.

EWA welcomed efforts by the IEC and the United Nations at timely completing the audit process and urged the two bodies to do more to increase transparency in the process.

It said the two campaigns’ support for the vote audit and invalidation was crucial to success of the elections and acceptance of the final result, asking the IEC and the UN to continue their efforts in this regard.

The organisation said addressing concerns of the two campaigns, ensuring their support for the vote audit and their readiness to accept the result were among core responsibilities of the IEC and the UN.

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