Q: What measures has the Independent Election Commission (IEC) taken so far in order to conduct parliamentary election?

A: The action plan for the upcoming parliamentary election has already been developed and the budget that we need for the election is planned. The IEC is now working on the election’s operational process. In other words, as far as it belongs to the IEC, we are ready to conduct parliamentary election as scheduled.  
 
Q: Who will pay for the election? Has any international donor pledged to fund this election?

A: I am sure that the international community will not leave Afghans alone in financing this democratic process.

Q: What will happen if the international community does not provide the required fund?

A: It will be a disappointing message for Afghans and as a result the election will be delayed.

Q: Do you think the Independent Election Commission needs to be reformed?

A: I personally support any reform which will result in conducting a transparent election. There is no obstacle for bringing reforms in the IEC.

Q: Have any changes been made in the structure of the IEC so far?

A: Five provincial heads of our sub-offices have been fired and the IEC is collecting evidences to introduce them to judicial bodies. The Commission has identified approximately six thousand of its temporary staff who were involved in the fraud, so they will not be reappointed in the upcoming election.

The IEC has taken some other constructive measures too. For instance, we have appointed new directors for our sub-offices. They will start their work since the beginning of Afghan New Year 1389 (March 22, 2010).

Q: Considering to the widespread fraud in the last presidential election, what have you planned to prevent fraud in the upcoming election?

A: The IEC has developed a strategy and shared it with relevant entities to prevent fraud in the upcoming election. We have planned to count the votes in polling stations. Agents of political parties and candidates, observers, and media should observe the voting process and they may help the IEC to make this process more transparent. It will be difficult for the IEC to fully control 160,000 to 170,000 temporary staff, but it people, agents of candidates and political parties, and the media support us, the process will become much more transparent.
 
Q: What do you think about the president’s decision to include two foreigners in the Electoral Complaints Commission?

A: There is nothing about the citizenship of the Electoral Complaints Commission members in the draft electoral law that has been signed by the president. The law has authorized the president to appoint members of the commission after consultation with head of upper house, parliament speaker and chief justice. Involvement of two foreign members in the ECC has no legal problem.

Q: Can the ECC prevent fraud with such a structure?

A: It depends to the ECC’s internal procedures and how it will adjudicate complaints.

Q: How can new and unregistered voters get voting cards for the upcoming election?

A: The IEC will announce electoral calendar on March 22, 2010. People who are now 18 years old, internally displaced people, and refugees can get voting cards in the IEC sub-offices.

Q: What are the conditions for parliamentary candidates?

A: According to amendments in the Election Law, a candidate for the parliamentary election must present the serial numbers of 1000 voting cards, as well as depositing 300,00 Afs.

Q: When can those who want to run for parliament, register?

A: According to electoral calendar, the registration process will start in late April 2010.

Q: What do you think of the future of democracy and free and fair elections in Afghanistan?

A: For institutionalizing democracy and conducting free and fair elections, we need a strong commitment of all sides that are somehow related to the elections. Such commitment not only belongs to the IEC, but it belongs to all relevant sides such as Afghan government, military forces, parliament, national and international observers, candidates, media, and the people.