FAIZABAD (Pajhwok): The voter registration process for the presidential election in Badakhshan province has been lackadaisical, officials said on Friday.
The sluggish process was linked to the remote location of voter registration centres from residential areas and hard-to-travel roads.
Election officials say more than 70,000 individuals have been registered across the country as voters since the launch of the drive 12 days ago.
Around 3,000 people, 39 percent of them women, have been documented as voters in Badakhshan, according to the head of the provincial election panel.
Mahboobullah Sultani told Pajhwok Afghn News the voter registration exercise was yet to be launched in Taliban-controlled Warduj and Yamgan districts.
He said the process was suspended in Shuhada district two days ago for security reasons. Harsh travel conditions and remote location of trgistration centres have dampened public participation.
“Many residents of far-flung districts have visited our office, suggesting that mobile registration teams be dispatched to their areas. But meeting the demand isn’t our discretion. The central election office is supposed to take a decision in this regard.”
Sultani added some families did not allow women to take part in the registration process dur to the absence female police personnel at some centres.
Women’s registration as voters had been lacklustre in the province due to inadequate public awareness, confirmed Women Affairs Director Aleena Ghayasi.
“With cooperation from the police headquarters, policewomen have been deputed at all registration centres. Women can safely participate in the process,” she said.
