The Independent Election Commission (IEC) on Monday reported that election materials from abroad will soon arrive in Afghanistan and the transfer to polling centers around the country will get underway. The IEC also called on security institutions to work toward raising public confidence in the security of the elections, which they hope will improve turnout.
"Election materials from abroad will start reaching the country tomorrow, but the transfer and purchasing process will come to an end January 15," IEC Secretariat chief Zia-ul-Haq Amarkhail said. "Later on, the transferring of election materials to the provinces will start according to the timetable."
The IEC has noted that materials, including ballots, would be dispatched to at least sixty centers in what have been labeled insecure districts around the country by air and pack-animal transportation. Amarkhail said these districts were primarily in remote regions of Badakhshan, Ghor, Bamyan, Daykundi, Nuristan and Badghis.
The Election Commission has also called on the security institutions of the country to bolster public trust in the security of the 6,431 polling stations expected to operate on election day. The Ministry of Interior (MoI) recently submitted a security assessment to the IEC detailing the conditions of centers around the country, reporting that about 90 percent were secured.
"The basic demand of the IEC is that the security institutions ensure security of the 6,431 polling stations and give assurance to the people and election commission about the safety of the elections," Amarkhail said. "They still have three months to formulate a comprehensive program in order to boost the IEC's and the public's trusts in security of the elections."
As Afghanistan heads nearer to April 5, the IEC has said that it has started to transfer polling booths to centers around the country and it will soon initiate the transfer of ballot papers.
Security forces are expected to help with the transfer process. And NATO coalition officials have offered their services in the transfer process as well
