IECC orders special audit of 1,400 polling stations

KABUL) with carrying out the process at vulnerable polling stations.

Officials of the IECC said that over 1,400 polling stations would be referred for a special inspection and audit while 298 polling stations would recounted again.The audit process is conditional and a mechanism has been chalked out under which votes could be refused or invalidated.

IECC head Zahra Bayan Shinwari told reporters here that 309 polling stations – or 10 percent of 137,000 votes with biometric information; journal and result sheets -- had been referred for special inspection.

She said in case 69 percent of the 309 polling stations met election standards, the entire or more than 137,000 votes would be considered reliable.

Shinwarai said if, during the inspection, 35 percent of the polling stations failed to meet the standards than all 137,000 votes would go for special inspection.

The IECC head said of the more than 102,000 votes from 7,354 polling stations, 15 percent from 1,103 polling stations with biometric information, journal and result sheets had been referred for special audit and inspection.

She said if 65 percent of these votes met the standards, all over 102,000 votes would be considered trusted while if 35 percent failed to meet the standards, all 102,000 would be considered invalid.

Referring to 2,423 disputed polling stations, the IECC head said 298 polling stations from total 2,434 polling stations would specially be inspected and if they met the rules and principles of both the commissions, all of these polling stations would be considered trusted while if lacked proper standards and failed to meet the principles and standards, the votes would be invalidated.

The IECC was moved with conditional special inspection of votes regarding which complaints had been registered.

Shinwarai added: “In compliance to its rules and procedures and showing flexibility, the IEC validated 1 - 5 discrepancy of votes in polling stations which the IECC decided against it and if the provincial IECC offices took the decision the other way around that is revoked and this applies to other objections raised in similar cases”

It is worth mentioning that the IEC earlier set a standard of 1-5 discrepancy of votes between hard result form and biometric data.

The Stability and Partnership team had registered complaints regarding 300,000 controversial votes that included over 102,000 votes polled outside official time, 137,000 quarantined votes, 70,000 votes with repeated photographs and 2432 disputed polling stations.

About the four invalidated polling stations in Faryab province, Shinwari said the decision of provincial IECC office was confirmed in this regard in line with complaints registered against these polling stations and supported by documents and other materials.

In September 28 presidential elections, people voted for 13 candidates and the preliminary result was announced on December 22, in which President Ashraf Ghani won the polls while Abdulah grabbed 39 percent of votes.

About 16,000 complaints were filed after the results, but the Election Complaints Commission dismissed nearly 10,000 of them.

The commission, on the basis of the remaining complaints, overturned votes of more than one hundred seats and has said that more than 5,000 seats must be recounted.