4.8 million enrolled as voters nation-wide: IEC

KABUL) said on Sunday.

Syed Hafeezullah Hashami, IEC commissioner, told Pajhwok Afghan News over 4.8 million eligible persons, including men, women, Kochis and minorities, have registered as voters as of Saturday evening.

“We did not expect the number of voters would reach this level, but fortunately a large number of people have registered as voters and many registered as candidates to contest the Wolesi Jirga and District Council elections.”

Out of total 4.8 million voters, over 3.1 million are men, 1.5 million women and over 90,700 Khochis and 512 Sikh and Hindu minorities.

Hashami said registration facilities in 408 voter registration centre in different districts could not be provided and the conduct of elections in these districts may not be possible.

He warned more registration centers might be closed due to growing insecurity until the end of the process.

Hashami did not provide details of registration facilities which could not be activated due to insecurity, but earlier he had said registration centres in over 10 districts had not been functioning due to insecurity.

He said there was a mechanism for residents of insecure areas and they could come to secure areas and cast their votes.

nh/ma