While Afghanistan is about two months away from its parliamentary and district council elections, all new developments related to the polls bolster the likelihood of another delay in the ballot. Even after the announcement of the final list of parliamentary candidates, it does not seem certain that the election will take place. In addition to other issues facing the election, there is a newly emerged challenge: the opposition of 35 candidates, including some strongmen, who have been barred by the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) from running for parliament. The IECC has disqualified these candidates without clarifying the reasons. The supporters of these candidates have shut down the office of Independent Election Commission (IEC) in Kabul to protest the decision, effectively preventing IEC staff from going to work.
Operational arrangements are underway for the upcoming election. Following the announcement of the final candidates list, it is time to start the printing of ballot papers. Moreover, the electoral commissions should accelerate public awareness campaign about the election. The closure of election commission, even if it is for a short period, can delay the election, as the fear has also been voiced by IEC chairperson. He has warned that if any delay occurs in the election, the National Unity Government and the supporters of disqualified candidates will be responsible for it.
After several delays, if the government again fails to hold the election on time, the people will further lose appetite to participate in the election. That will place even more burden on the government next year, because the IEC, whose actions clearly signify poor management, will have to conduct the presidential, parliamentary, and provincial and district council elections all together. While it may decrease the costs of elections, it also certainly precipitates another electoral crisis given the past experience of holding all elections at once. Before another political and electoral crisis happens, the government has to tackle the existing problems in a rational manner, thereby paving the way for the election commission to make all necessary arrangements for the parliamentary and district council elections.
