The National Procurement Authority (NPA) has approved fund for purchasing of over 18,000 biometric identification devices ahead of September 28 presidential elections in Afghanistan.
The Independent Election Commission (IEC) has said that it will start reforming the voters’ lists in the next few days.
“The NPA during an emergency meeting approved 14.14 million euros funds on the request of the independent election commission to purchase 17,865 biometric identification devices and its accessories such as power bank, printers, paper, and ink,” said Ahmad Ramin Ayaz, head of strategic communication and information at the National Procurement Authority.
This comes after the use of biometric devices sparked major controversies during the October 20 parliamentary elections in Afghanistan which were also marred by widespread allegations of fraud and rigging.
“The company itself is cooperating with us, the company undertakes training to us, particularly to those who will work as our trainers in the elections,” an IEC member Habib-Ur-Rahman Nang said.
But, election monitoring organizations and observers said that no one can guarantee transparency of the elections unless the voter’s list are reformed.
“If there is a problem on the list, no type of biometric will determine the fairness of the elections. We are really concerned about the management and capacity of members of the election commission,” said Naeem Ayubzada, head of Transparent Election Foundation of Afghanistan.
