In the course of its investigations, the ECC has found clear and convincing evidence of fraud in a number of polling stations in the province of Ghazni. The ECC therefore orders that ballots cast in a number of boxes at 27 Polling Stations be invalidated. The polling station ballots to be excluded are listed below.

Investigation and subsequent decisions were taken in response to Complaints received by the ECC during the polling and counting period. During investigation the ECC found a number of indicators of fraud including unfolded ballots, votes for candidates inserted inside bundles for other candidates, miscounted ballots, missing material, uniformity of markings, seal numbers which did not match numbers on the record of seals and lists of voters with numerous fictitious card numbers.

In the light of this evidence and the ECC’s decisions regarding fraudulent voting, the ECC decides in accordance with its authority under Articles 49(2) and 54(e) of the Electoral Law that it is necessary and appropriate to order the invalidation of all ballots cast in the relevant elections in the above-mentioned stations.

In addition, the ECC also ORDERS the IEC to conduct a recount and audit of all boxes for the following stations:

0609132-01, 03, 04, 05, 06 and 07 (both elections)
0609157 all stations (both elections)
0609156-01, 02, 04, 05 (provincial council election)

The ECC dismissed Complaints A-09-00-5071 and A-09-00-5082 alleging that IEC officials were planning to stuff boxes at 834 polling centers in various districts in Ghazni.

The ECC continues to investigate remaining Complaints concerning Ghazni and other provinces.

The full texts of the relevant ECC Decisions are attached. ECC Decisions are the sole authoritative source for all sanctions mentioned in this Press Release. These and all other ECC Decisions are also available on the ECC website www.ecc.org.af.

The Electoral Complaints Commission of Afghanistan is an independent body established under Article 52 of the Electoral Law to adjudicate all complaints concerning the electoral process. Complaints must be submitted within 72 hours of the offence. All complaints submitted to the ECC will be dealt with in an impartial, transparent and timely manner. The ECC will be thorough about serious cases, and candidates and their supporters should be patient for the outcome of the complaints process.

For more information, please contact:

Ahmad Muslim Khuram
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+93 (0) 798188605