Afghanistan Analysts Network – English

Martine van Bijlert

Elections 2014 (24): The IECC’s performance addressing provincial council complaints

Martine van Bijlert • Qayoom Suroush •

While most observers are focused on the upcoming second round of the presidential election, the process surrounding the provincial council vote is still ongoing. The Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) finished its open sessions last week and, in response to allegations of manipulation by IEC staff, ordered a widespread recount of votes, which had already […]

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Elections 2014 (19): Final results’ timeline trumps transparency

Martine van Bijlert •

This morning, on 15 May 2014, the Independent Election Commission (IEC) announced the final results of the first round of the presidential elections. Both frontrunners have since then publicly accepted the results, while still claiming that in a fair process they would have done better, and are readying themselves for the second round vote that […]

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Elections 2014 (16): Final preliminary results, complaints, campaigns and negotiations

Martine van Bijlert •

The preliminary results of the 2014 presidential election have been announced, with two clear frontrunners – Dr Abdullah Abdullah, with 44.9 per cent of the vote and Dr Ashraf Ghani with 31.5 per cent – and no outright winner. These are still preliminary results, not yet taking into consideration the findings of the complaints commission (IECC), […]

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Elections 2014 (13): The IEC and IECC’s reluctance to be transparent

Martine van Bijlert •

An overriding theme over the past two weeks has been the reluctance of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) to publicly release detailed information as to what is going on with the vote count. Both bodies are now catching up, but only reluctantly so, and the first round of the […]

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Elections 2014 (9): Making sense of the first ten per cent of the results

Martine van Bijlert •

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has released its long-awaited first, partial results, having counted a little over half a million votes, representing a 10 per cent result in 26 provinces. The results, announced on 13 April 2014 in a short press conference, showed Dr Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani firmly in the lead – something which […]

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Elections 2014 (7): An emerging mixed picture

Martine van Bijlert •

It is four days after the election. The country is generally still in a good mood after a poll that went much better than expected. At the same time, a more complete picture is emerging and it is, unsurprisingly, mixed. Alongside a robust genuine and determined vote, there are indications of significant irregularities: old patterns of intimidation, ballot-stuffing, and ‘ghost polling stations’ in […]

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Elections 2014 (5): Inky Fingers and Wet Feet – Polling Day

Martine van Bijlert •

As the polls closed and the counting of votes in Afghanistan’s 2014 presidential elections began, rain was still pouring down in many parts of Afghanistan. Despite the weather, first impressions suggest turnout was good, at least in the cities. Taleban violence was worse than on an average day in early April and their threats kept […]

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Election 2014 (2): The polling centres that were taken off the list

Martine van Bijlert •

On the eve of the election, AAN’s Martine van Bijlert takes a look at the final list of polling centres that the Independent Election Commission (IEC) has considered secure enough to open for voting tomorrow (5 April 2014). She looks at where the polling stations are – or rather: where they have they been removed – […]

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What to Watch in the Elections (1): Voter registration

Martine van Bijlert •

Elections in Afghanistan can be overwhelming, surreal and utterly confusing, even for those who have followed the politics of the country for a long time. To bring those who were not here during previous elections up to speed, and to remind those who may have forgotten the details of what it was like, AAN’s Martine […]

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What to Watch in the Elections (2): Polling station lists

Martine van Bijlert •

Elections in Afghanistan can be overwhelming, surreal and utterly confusing, even for those who have followed the politics of the country for a long time. To bring those who were not here during previous elections up to speed, and to remind those who may have forgotten the details of what it was like, AAN’s Martine […]

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What to Watch in the Elections (3): Polling day, fraud and irregularities

Martine van Bijlert •

Elections in Afghanistan can be overwhelming, surreal and utterly confusing, even for those who have followed the politics of the country for a long time. To bring those who were not here during previous elections up to speed, and to remind those who may have forgotten the details of what it was like, AAN’s Martine […]

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What to Watch in the Elections (4): The count, the complaints and the result

Martine van Bijlert •

Elections in Afghanistan can be overwhelming, surreal and utterly confusing, even for those who have followed the politics of the country for a long time. To bring those who were not here during previous elections up to speed, and to remind those who may have forgotten the details of what it was like, AAN’s Martine […]

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