Source:
Afghanistan Times
Publication date:
Jan 04 2014
KABUL: Independent Election Commission (IEC) on Saturday said that 300,000 national and international observers will monitor the upcoming presidential elections in a bid to ensure transparency of the April polls.
“Observing elections is a key element in a democratic system, and the commission will do its best through all possible means to pave the ground for all eligible entities including civil societies and political parties to monitor the election process across the country,” said IEC spokesman Noor Mohammad Noor.
Speaking at a press conference entitled “Youth observance over election” organized by New Line Organization, top electoral official said that up to 1,400 observers have been introduced to the IEC by 120 different national and international organizations to obtain ID cards to observe the electoral process. “In order to hold free and fair elections, the IEC will allow national and international observers to monitor the polling process,” he asserted.
Pointing out to distribution of voter cards, he said the voter card distribution has successfully finished, and 3.4 million eligible voters, 35 percent women, have received new voter cards. He reckoned that some 12 million Afghans, of which roughly %70 youth, are eligible to cast vote in elections, urging the young generation to take active part in polling process. “Youth can play a pivotal role in observing the elections as well, so all youth must take this responsibility serious in order to ensure a successful and fraud-free elections,” he stressed.
Transparent Election Foundation of Afghanistan (TEFA) Head Naim Ayobzada said that it is required of relevant organs to provide the observers with training programs to they find the capability to monitor the election process in a better situation. He stated that also political parties, civil societies and community Shura must keep coordination in the aspect to be effective in monitoring polling process throughout the country.
Director of New Line Organization, Fahim Seddiqi, said the as newly structured association is ready to prepare 2000 youths as observer for upcoming election. He said that his organization also have set different campaign to mobilize people in participating the election process in the country.
