KABUL (Pajhwok): The Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) on Wednesday said it has completed addressing complaints at its provincial offices, invalidating votes from 77 polling booths.
In September 28 presidential election, 4,905 polling stations were set up and each station contained several voting booths. Up to 400 people could vote in each booth.
Mualvi Din Mohammad Azimi, IECC deputy chief, told a press conference here that 4,528 complaints about the election had been registered with the commission’s provincial branches in all 34 provinces of the country.
He said 623 of the complaints were registered in the IECC central office and 3,905 others in its provincial offices. He said appeals had been submitted against 128 complaints.
IECC’s provincial offices addressed complaints they received in a period of 15 days according to the electoral law and the time of responding to complaints had ended, he said.
IECC officials say those who lodged complaints or someone who registered complaints against them could appeal for change in the next 18 days.
According to Mualvi Din Mohammad Azimi, 1,780 complaints were rejected due to lack of valid reasons and votes of 1,817 polling booths referred to the Independent Election Commission (IEC) for recount.
He added votes of another 77 booths which were reported closed on the Election Day had been invalidated. He said 54 complaints were associated with cash fines, eight cases led to dismissal of jobs, 907 complaints were referred to judiciary organs and 179 complaints were exceptional.
Dr. Mohammad Qasim Elyasi, IECC spokesman, said that the commission’s central office had the responsibility to review complaints registered against decisions of its provincial offices in presence of evidence and documents.
He said if a candidate had complaint about the decisions of the IECC’s provincial offices, he could lodge his complaint with IECC’s central office within three days after the first decision was declared.
Zahra Bayan Shinwari, IECC chief, assured parties involved in election and candidates that the commission was committed to ensuring electoral justice.
She asked all sides of the election to let the IECC discharge its responsibilities according to the law.
Mds/ma
