Existing ID cards to be used in upcoming polls: IEC

KABUL) on Wednesday said the existing National Identity Card (Tazkera) would be used to identify and register voters for the upcoming elections.

The commission also scrapped its earlier decision to use technology in voter registration process, citing lack of funds and non-cooperative role of the international community.

IEC acting chief Waseema Badghisi told reporters here: “Unfortunately the strategy to introduce new technology and get advantage of it could not be implemented due to the lack of funds and lack of cooperation from the international community.”

She added the current available Tazkera caards would be used in voters’ registration process.

She was addressing the third National Election Summit attended by representatives from political parties, election watchdogs, experts and civil society activists.

Badghisi hoped the people of Afghanistan, government, political parties and international community would welcome the new strategy.

The IEC had earlier announced it would use technology in voters’ registration and identification process for upcoming Wolesi Jirga and District Councils elections in order to prevent fraud.

The acting IEC head said eligible voters would be registered at specific voter registration centres and they would cast their votes at particular centres on the election day.

IEC spokesman Abdul Dadai Sayyad said the Population Registration Authority had distributed 10 million tazkera and work on preparing voter lists had been started.

Without naming anyone, he said some people were trying to conspire against the IEC for their personal advantage.

Yousuf Rashid, head of the Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA), work on creation of voter lists as vital.

However, he warned time was running out for the election commission as millions might be unable to vote or the elections might be deferred.

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