UNAMA welcomes IEC’s adoption of criteria for invalidation and recount of ballots

30 Jul 2014

UNAMA welcomes IEC’s adoption of criteria for invalidation and recount of ballots

KABUL - The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) welcomes the Independent Election Commission’s (IEC) decision to adopt criteria for the invalidation and recount of ballots as part of the ongoing comprehensive audit of the results of the Presidential election run-off held on 14 June.

The IEC decision is based on a UN proposal founded upon international best practice. Under the technical agreement reached by the two Presidential candidates, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and Dr. Ashraf Ghani, on 12 July, the UN was asked to propose the manner for the international supervision of the audit, which it did after thorough and extensive consultations with both Presidential campaigns. The IEC decision has the full backing of the international community.

“This decision will ensure that the audit process will lead to the invalidation of fraudulent ballots while all valid votes will be counted, thus honouring the courage and determination of the Afghans who voted in both rounds of the Presidential election,” said the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA, Ján Kubiš, who met with the IEC Board of Commissioners earlier today.

“The IEC’s adoption of the criteria means that the regulatory framework for the Presidential audit is now complete,” added Mr. Kubiš. “It will help minimise the points of friction encountered in the audit so far. I encourage both campaigns to continue demonstrating the political will necessary to proceed expeditiously with the audit, without any interruption.”

Noting the urgent situation facing Afghanistan once auditing does resume on Saturday, following the Eid break, the Special Representative looks forward to the candidate teams continuing their participation in the audit process and focusing on large-scale irregularities rather than contesting individual ballots.