Afghan Vote Marred by Concerns Over Election Fraud

This weekend’s vote in Afghanistan has been marred by reports of voter intimidation and the spread of misinformation, as well as reported instances of fraud. The main group overseeing the election has noted that it has serious concerns about the legitimacy of the parliamentary vote. President Hamid Karzai, on the other hand, noted that the voting was a tremendous success. Who is to be believed remains unknown, as it is very difficult to determine much of anything amid the general chaos in the country. Afghan officials are noting, however, that it could take months to sort out the election results.

Internationally, supporters of Afghanistan lauded those turning out to vote, as rocket attacks and continuous bombings made the process harrowing, to say the least. The first tallies of votes will be released in just a few days, but full results are not expected until early next month and, as noted, the possibility that the counting will last for much longer is quite real. Indicating just how dangerous it was to vote over the weekend, 21 civilians and nine police officers were killed during the process, and two individuals working at the polls were kidnapped.

There is no number yet as to the total voter turnout for the election, though estimates are that at least 4 million have voted, which represents just 24% of the nation’s registered voters. The Free and Fair Elections Foundation of Afghanistan noted that "Ballot stuffing was seen to varying extents in most provinces, as were proxy voting and underage voting."