The AIEC ordered a run-off for the disputed presidential election after a fraud investigation decreased incumbent Hamid Karzai's votes below 50 percent of the total by invalidating ballots from 210 polling stations.
Many voters, who did not cast their votes in the first round on August 20, say they are eager to take part in the second round, but can not do so as the election officials are not going to issue them fresh cards.
Ahmad Khan, a resident of Bagrami district of Kabul, told Pajhwok he did not participate in the election. He went to the election office to get card, but was told that the election commission was not issuing fresh cards for the November 7 election.
Lal Agha, resident of Joi Haft area of Jalalabad in eastern Nangarhar province, also complained about non-issuance of card. The AIEC should open a small office in each province to issue cards to those who want to participate in the process this time, said Agha, who missed the previous election.
However, the AIEC officials said they could not issue fresh cards for the runoff process.
A spokesman for the AIEC, Noor Muhammad, told Pajhwok Afghan News the cards could not be issued due to shortage of time.
Officials of the election commission said they had issued 17 million cards for the previous presidential and provincial council elections across the country.
It merits a mention here that people less than 18 years of age are not eligible to participate in the process.
dk/ma
