KABUL (SW) – The Independent Election Commission (IEC) on Wednesday announced to use biometric technology in the forthcoming presidential elections.
The move is aimed at avoiding repeat of the issues that marred the 2014 presidential elections.
Syed Hafeezullah Hashimi, spokesman for the IEC, told a presser that the electoral commission is in favor of using this technology for all sorts of polls, but the parliamentary elections are just 70 days later, hence it is not possible for that. He said the IEC is in the procurement process to ensure biometric technology is used in the presidential elections 2019.
Political parties have long been pushing for the use of biometric technology, establishment of a system of transfer of votes and opportunity for parties to closely monitor polls. The claim by the IEC regarding registration of up to 9 million potential voters for the forthcoming polls has also been questioned by political parties.
Gulajan Abdul Badi Sayad, head of the IEC, has clarified changes in the system of votes’ transfer is not in the jurisdiction of the electoral commission, however, political parties would be facilitated to monitor elections. He said discussion can also be held on possibility of using biometric technology for the parliamentary elections.
IEC officials informed up to 800 people have been appointed to digitalize the voter registration process.
ENDS
