Electoral Supportive Institutions declares ERS proposal package effective for upcoming elections

The Afghanistan monitoring and observation institutions are said to consider the Election Reforms Commission (ERC)’s seven proposals are effective for holding the upcoming elections but the transparency of the elections would not be guaranteed.

The members of these institutions noted that of the ten proposals, three of them were sent to President Ghani for reviewing that are counted critical items for electoral system.

In September 2014, after months of deadlock over the contested electoral results, the two presidential candidates signed a power-sharing deal to protect national unity, introducing the office of the Chief Executive.

Changing the electoral system, limiting electoral polls, managing the list of voters based on identity cards, renewal of polling sites, reduction of election commission’s staffs, transparency Committee to address the challenges and Electoral complaints, accountability electoral commissions, women’s role in provincial council’s positions and hiring temporary staff among the teachers and employees of government and non-governmental agencies were the proposals of Election Reforms Commission which were submitted to President.

“Of the ten proposals, three of them were sent to President Ghani for a double review,” Sidiqullah Tawhidi, deputy of ERC said.

There is still the widespread concern that the gridlock over the reform could spark further uncertainty in the country, to the point of bringing about protests and disorder should the upcoming parliamentary election be held under the same law.

Reported by Rafi Sidiqi