MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): The Independent Election Commission (IEC)’s main office in Kabul on Tuesday ordered a recount of votes cast at 50 polling stations in northern Balkh province, an official said.
IEC regional chief in Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of Balkh, Izzatullah Arman told Pajhwok Afghan News their office had started recounting votes polled at 50 polling stations of 29 polling centres mostly in Mazar-i-Sharif and Zari, Charbolak and Chamtal districts.
He said preliminary results had already been transferred to the IEC headquarters, but the IEC officials in Kabul ordered a recount after reviewing the results.
He said no major fraud had been committed during the polls in Balkh, but it appeared some IEC workers had committed mistakes in counting of votes.
Some ballot boxes had fewer ballots and others excessively filled, promoting the IEC’s main office to order a recount, Arman said.
Some Balkh residents said they were pleased with the vote recount. Mohammad Naiem, a dweller of Mazar-I-Sharif, said the IEC should respect people’s votes because they braved security threats to participate in the April 5 elections.
“Recounting of votes at 50 polling stations shows the IEC is independen and impartial,” he said.
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