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Independent Election Commission (IEC) spokesman Noor Mohammad Noor announced on Monday that the runoff round between the top two presidential candidates, required by law if no one received a majority of votes in the first round, will likely take place on June 14.

With final results of the presidential election just days away, and a likely runoff round between the top two candidates on the horizon, the Hezb-e-Islami Shura announced support for Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai on Friday.

Final results of the presidential and provincial council elections are expected on May 14. With none of the candidates getting over 50 percent of the preliminary vote count, a second round election is to take place between the leading candidate, Abdullah Abdullah, and the second place candidate, Ashraf Ghani.

The Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) on Thursday concluded a five day open hearing of electoral complains. Spokesman Nadir Mohseni said at least 900 complaints directly impacting results were reviewed over the course of the process, and the conclusions of the commission would be finalized by next week . 
 
According to Mohseni, more than 2,000 complaints were registered by the ECC, but less than half of them fell in Category A, the kind of complaints that could possibly change results. 
 

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Balkh Governor Atta Mohammad Noor on Tuesday hailed the April 5 elections as a success, but accused some election officials of being partial in tallying votes

Noor was addressing a gathering in Mazar-i-Sharif to pay tributes to security forces for their efforts to protect voters and polling sites during the historic presidential and provincial elections.

Government officials and tribal elders attended the gathering at the Governor’s House. Noor praised the security forces, saying their role in the elections was commendable.

KABUL (Pajhwok): A week has passed since the Independent Election Commission (IEC) said it was investigating suspect ballots cast at 444 polling centres, but their fate remains unknown.

The Independent Election Commission (IEC) has reported that preparations have been completed to conduct a second round of elections. However, the IEC awaits the Electoral Complaints Commission's (ECC) completed investigation on the invalidated votes and issue the final verdict.
 
The head of IEC Chief Secretariat, Zia-ul-haq Amarkhail, stated that assessments on the 444 polling centers are underway and the outcomes of the recounting and assessments will be shared with the ECC within two days.