|
Afghan War News >
Events > Election 2014
The presidential and provincial council elections for Afghanistan
took place on April 5, 2014. Karzai, per the Afghan constitution, was not permitted
to run for a third term - which is a huge relief to many Afghan citizens,
the international community, and the International Security Assistance
Force (ISAF)
who view his presidency as inept, incompetent and hugely corrupt.
"The ability of the
HN government and its local subdivisions to stage fair and secure
elections is a significant milestone toward establishing legitimate,
effective governance. While civilian agencies that maintain strict
transparency guide the elections process, military forces provide the
support that enables broad participation by the local populace".
FM 3-24.2
6.
Return to Top of Page
Events and Activities Preceding the April 2014
Election
The Date is Set! The Afghanistan
Independent Election Commission has announced that the presidential vote
will take place on April 5, 2014. The vote will also include the
provincial council elections. The vote will be the first democratic
transfer of power since the American intervention that toppled the Taliban
after the 9/11 attacks by al Qaeda (harbored by the Taliban).
Vote Held Too Early in the Year?
Many observers have commented that the more remote areas will have trouble
voting as the high mountain passes will still be covered with snow and
will prevent some from going to the polling stations.
Corrupt Elections? Many fear that
the elections will once again be rigged - as they were for the last
election which kept Karzai in office. There was widespread fraud and
ballot stuffing. 1. Karzai can't run
for President again; but he will, however, do everything possible to put
one of his cronies (his brother?) into office as President to keep the money from his
corrupt regime flowing to his family bank accounts overseas.
Karzai Elections. Karzai was
appointed the head of an interim administration in 2001 with the backing
of European powers at the Bonn Conference. He also won in the 2004 and
2009 presidential elections - both marred with fraud and cheating that
provided Karzai with an illegal victory.
2009 Elections. The turnout was
low during the 2009 elections due to insurgent pressure and intimidation
on the population to not vote. The 2009 elections were also marred by
numerous allegations of voter fraud. Most international observers have
concluded that Karzai stole the 2009 election. A candidate in the current
elections (2014), Abdullah Abdullah, was also a lead candidate in the 2009
Afghan elections and garnered enough support to force a runoff with
Karzai. However, the elections were discredited by the United Nations and
other observers of the international community and Abdullah Abdullah
withdrew.
Voting Cards. In order to vote
Afghans must register for the vote and be issued a voting card. The
downfall of a voting card is if you are caught with one by the Taliban you
are subject to reprisals. Hamid Karzai is advocating that the voter
registration cards issued for the 2009/2010 election be considered valid.
Unfortunately, many of those IDs are fraudulent and contributed greatly to
the voter fraud that helped get Karzai elected. A prudent course would be
to issue new voter registration cards and this is advocated by many observing
the preparations for the upcoming Afghan elections.
2. Voter registration started on May 26, 2013.
The registration process will take place in all 34 provinces for anyone 18
years or older who has not previously registered (2009) or who have lost
their voter cards. The current voter rolls have 16 million people
registered and it is expected that another 4 million will be added. Many
of the voter registration IDs are fraudulent and controlled in some
fashion by President Karzai's political machine. Many voter registration
cards are being sold (some for the cost of a meal) by voters and middlemen
then deliver the to campaign managers who will use them to stuff ballot
boxes. 8. In fact, it is reported
17. that voter fraud is quite simple to
commit - verification of name and address is almost non-existent.
(Photo
from IJC Facebook)
Lack of Security Will Affect Voter
Registration. The voter registration teams will " . . only go to
areas where security . . . " is sufficient for them to work.
4. Security should be relatively safe for
the voter registration process as the vote card centers are in secured
urban areas.
Ineffective Government. Many
Afghans feel it is futile to vote. They state that the elections are
rigged and the central government is corrupt and ineffective. The Kabul
regime has failed to provide for security, governance is non-existent in
my districts, and development projects fail to reach many of the contested
rural areas. Those funded projects that do reach the population are
subjected to corruption, favoritism, and inefficiency. This causes many
Afghans to feel alienated from the Afghan government and discouraged about
voting.
Independent Election Commission (IEC).
The head of the Independent Election Commission is Fazel Ahmad Manawi. In
July 2013, Karzai selected nine new members 5.
of the IEC; many of whom are closely affiliated with Karzai. Members of
the election commission have been targeted by the Taliban and other
insurgents. 16. You can view
the website of the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan at the link below.
www.iec.org.af
Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC).
The ECC is Afghanistan's election watchdog. It is not currently effective
(as of early February 2014 13.) because
of lack of funding and staffing problems. This could undermine the 2014
election with accusations of fraud that discredited the 2009 presidential
elections. The ECC has received only a fraction of the funding needed
because the international community is waiting for the Afghan government
to appoint provincial election officials. The ECC offices in the provinces
have yet to be opened due to the slow moving (intentional by Karzai of
course) bureaucracy.
Concern about Possible Delay of Elections. Many
feel that Afghanistan has a real chance at a democracy and of defeating
the insurgents if an effective president is elected. So they look forward
to the end of the Karzai regime and a new beginning for Afghanistan.
However, . . . for a long period of time there was concern that that Karzai
would delay
the elections with a presidential edict and stay in power; at least
through 2014 when ISAFs influence diminishes drastically. Many Afghans
felt the elections would never take place. Karzai always seemed way ahead of
the U.S. State Department and ISAF in thinking about and planning for what happened in April
2014.
Monitoring of Elections by International
Community. Due to some spectacular attacks against foreigners in
Kabul (guesthouses, hotels, and
restaurants) and across the country many who were here to monitor or
report on the election chose to depart Afghanistan. The amount of
international monitors present for the 2014 election was significantly less
than those present for the 2004 and 2009 elections. This puts the election
results in question to a certain degree and jeopardizes the validity of
the elections.
Taliban Disruption of the Elections.
The Taliban aim to disrupt and thereby discredit the elections. The less
people that vote (due to security concerns, lack of interest, etc.) then
the less legitimate the elections will be and this will have an impact on
the legitimacy of the next president of Afghanistan. The Taliban were not
defeated this past fighting season (2013). They may have suffered a bloody
nose due to the highly successful SOF operations conducted but the ANSF
also took terrible casualties. Currently the Taliban are reorganizing,
preparing, and training for operations that will disrupt the election.
14. The Taleban have targeted police,
election officials, local candidates and foreigners in the days preceding
the April 5th election.
Warlords on the Ballot. There are
some unscrupulous individuals picked as either first or second vice
president candidates. These include Dostum, Ismail Khan, and others. These
warlords played a key role in the Afghan civil war during the 1990s. The
warlords have regional powerbases with solid patronage systems in place.
In addition, they will undoubtedly controlled much of the vote through fraud
and ballot box stuffing. Rumor has it that
Rashid Dostum had already sealed the
a great proportion of the Uzbek vote through ballot fraud.
Afghan Lack Confidence in Honesty of the
Elections. According to a recent Gallup poll
21. only one in five Afghans have confidence
in the honesty of the elections. The confidence level is even lower than
that reflected in the 2009 presidential elections (considered illegal by
many observers because of extensive fraud by Hamid Karzai and the low
voter turnout). According to the poll the majority of Afghans lack faith
in the elections.
Is Literacy a Problem for Voters?
The vast majority of Afghans do not read or write. So how do they vote?
Each candidate is represented on the ballot by a symbol such as a dove,
bulldozer, etc. Seen below is a picture of the 2009 presidential ballot.
Image from NATO TV
So . . . How Do We Get Fair Elections? There are
many critics of past Afghan elections (especially the 2009 debacle)
however few come up with positive suggestions. Sarah Chayes recently
testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and presented several
recommendations. 3. These include the
U.S. reaching a consensus about what our objectives are in Afghanistan. If
we want fair elections (she says) then US officials must stop supporting
the very people who would subvert the process (warlords, Karzai and
others).
Election Monitors. Due to the
uptick in high-profile attacks against foreigners in Kabul and elsewhere
in Afghanistan in the weeks preceding the election many reporters and
election observers left the country or chose to remain sequestered in
their protected compounds. The monitoring of the elections fell mostly on
265,000 registered Afghan monitors and the campaign workers of the various
candidates and political parties. 19.
Number of Voters? Reporting
indicates that there are approximately 12 to 13 million voters; although
projections on how many will actually vote are varied. Compounding the
problem of voter registration is that there is a lack of a proper census
mechanism, voter rolls, and no method of matching voters against a
database. Of note is that there have been over 21 million voter
registration cards handed out over the past ten years. Hmmmm. If you can
do the math you probably will arrive at the answer of "FRAUD".
Security of Polling Stations. The
Independent Election Commission (IEC) has released a list of the polling
centres that it considered secure enough to open for voting on 5 April
2014. The total number of polling centres has fluctuated as the Ministry
of Interior (MoI) and the IEC added and subtracted sites based on
population estimates and security assessments. In February 2014 there were
7,168 planned but, of these, only around 6,400 opened on election day. The
polling stations opened at 7 am and closed at 4 pm on 5 April 2014. The
Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN) provides a detailed examination of the
polling centres for the April 2014 election. 18.
The Afghan Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has an interactive
map that provides a description of each of the polling centers at this
link:
www.iec.org.af/pcmap. Many of the polling stations were located in
schools and medical centers. 20.
What to Watch in the Elections.
The Afghanistan Analyst Network (AAN), an independent non-profit
research organization, has provided some valuable tips for observers of
the Afghan election of 2014. These include
voter registration,
polling station lists,
polling day fraud and irregularities, and
voting counts and complaints. The information was posted on their
website on April 1, 2014.
Was Afghanistan Ready to Vote? Probably! There
were two main concerns for the election. One was a
proper level of security and the other was to keep fraud to a minimum.
Security was deemed good enough by the ANSF, ISAF, and most of the
international community; but election fraud? It appears that the elections
had a significant amount of fraud - just as they were in 2009. The independence of the IEC
is held in question; as it was appointed by Hamid Karzai. The international community has a hands-off approach.
Military and civilian observers will be small in number and are likely to be duped once again
as they were in the 2009 election or they just won't have visibility on
how the elections are run.
10.
Return to Top of Page
Afghan Presidential Eection Results (April 5, 2014)
Voter Turnout. Initial reports
indicate that seven million out of 12 million eligible voters (about 58%)
voted. These preliminary estimates (on 5 Apr) were provided by the
election commission. 24. The voters
were an increase of 4.5 million in the past 2009 presidential election.
Election Results Announced 20 April.
The results of the election will be announced on or about 20 April
following a protracted vote count. That announcement will be followed by
weeks of challenges and a review period to examine allegations of fraud.
The actual official results may not be known until mid-May. Afghanistan
lacks the refined exit polling process that provides almost instant
news on election outcomes . . . so we have to wait. It is clear that
Abdullah and Ghani are the two front runners and will likely be the two
contenders in the round two elections.
Results of Election by Province.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has posted the results of the
2014 elections on their website. You can access the results at the link
below.
www.iec.org.af/results/en/elections
Abdullah and Ghani in Run-off.
Abdullah received about 45% of the vote while Ghani received about 31% of
the vote.
Election Run-off on June 14. If the first
place winner of the presidential election does not get 50% of the vote
then there is a run-off election. The run-off is scheduled on June 14th
between Ghani and Abdullah.
Return to Top of Page
Assessment of April 5, 2014 Elections
Security. The elections were
reasonably secure given that they were held during a period of insecurity
amidst an insurgency that has been in existence for over ten years. Of the
7,000 plus planned polling stations ISAF has determined the 6,200 were
functioning. 23. There were numerous
polling stations that did not open due to security concerns and others
that opened but saw little participation due to Taleban intimidation.
Holding the election in early April (vice August 2009) probably
contributed to a greater sense of security - as this is the beginning
of the fighting season. The
Operational Coordinating Centers (OCCs) located at regional and
provincial level played a big part in coordinating election security.
OCC-R at FOB Gamberi, Laghman province on April 5, 2014
(Photo by CPL
George Hurley, U.S. Army)
Fraud. Hopefully the instances of
election fraud are significantly less than the 2009 election that Hamid
Karzai rigged. Time will tell in the next few months how much election
fraud took place and the effect on the election results.
Taliban Intimidation. While most
observers (ISAF is simply glowing with pride) believe the ANSF had a
successful day in providing security for the election the real truth is
that the insurgents still hold sway in much of the countryside of eastern
and southern Afghanistan. For example, a short helicopter flight from
Kabul (15 minutes) in Nerkh district, Wardak province very little voters
turned out. 25. The simple fact is that
while the Afghan National Police and the Afghan National army can secure
the district center (and perhaps from the district center out to the
maximum effective range of their rifles) the insurgents have freedom of
movement in 95% of the district countryside and can intimidate the
population. So perhaps everyone should take a deep breath about how well
the ANSF did in securing the elections.
Voting Along Ethnic Lines.
Historically, Afghans have voted along ethnic lines. Early projections
indicate that this is the case for the 2014 presidential elections.
26. Pashtuns will vote for Pashtun
candidates, Tajiks for Tajik candidates, and so on. The leading (and only)
presidential candidate for the Tajiks was Abdullah Abdullah. Hazaras will
mostly vote for Abdullah Abdullah because he has a Hazara vice president
on his ticket. Ashrah Ghani has Rashid Dostum, a prominent Uzbek, on his
ticket.
Return to Top of Page
Afghan Runoff Election Results (June 14, 2014)
Voter Turnout. The voter turnout
for the election runoff was anticpated to be less than that of the initial
election. However early indications point to a 60% turn out; which is
close to the electoral turn out of the first round of voting. Observers
have noted that much of the voting was concluded by late morning and the
lines were not significantly long - casting doubt on the governments
claims that over 7 million voters took part in the election.
Runoff Election Results to be Announced
July 2nd.
The initial results of the election will be announced on/about July 2nd.
The final results will be announced on/about July 22nd.
Results of Election by Province.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) will likely post the results of the
2014 election runoff on their website.
Election Security. The security
provided by the ANSF seemed adequate for the election. There were a number
of Taliban attacks across the country but not enough to disrupt or
discredit the election.
Accusations of Fraud. Abdullah
called for a halt in the vote counting process of the second round of
elections citing instances of fraud - up to at least one million
fraudelant votes. 27. The head of
the IEC resigned under pressure after an audio recording was released to
the press that indicated he was influencing the electoral process.
In June 2014 a series of demonstrations by
Abdullah supporters were staged across the country in protest of the
rigging of the vote. The Abdullah campaign issued a letter to the IEC
outlining 13 demands to mitigate the election fraud. Abdullah has demanded
that the vote counting process be halted until the fraud accusations are
investigated and resolved.
Votes finally Tabulated. Under
the observation of the United Nations and other international observers
the final tally of the votes was completed on September 5, 2014. However,
Abdullah has indicated that he will not accept the results of the vote
count. A lot of this coulld be politcally maneuvering on his part to get a
greater share of the power in a "unity government" formed between he and
Ghani.
National Unity Government (NUG).
The presidential runoff election was inconclusive. Although most
obeservers believe that Ghani received the most votes the election was
marred by rampant fraud. As a result a stalemate ensued between Ghani and
Abdullah. Eventuarly they reached an agreement and formed a
National Unity Government (NUG).
Return to Top of Page
The Afghan Presidential Candidates
At the end of the
presidential registration period there were about 27 candidates for
office. In late October, the IEC dropped eight potential runners from the
contender's list; reducing the number of candidates to 19.
9. An additional
number were dropped from the list or withdrew bringing the number to
eleven (view a
list of the eleven candidates provided by the IEC). Weeks before the
election another three candidates withdrew. At the time of the election
there were eight candidates running for president.
The Two Leading Candidates
Dr. Abdullah Abdullah. This candidate
has been nominated by the national coalition. He is a former foreign
minister (2001-2005) and was a close associate of Ahmad Shah Masood of the
National Alliance and fought against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.
At age 53, he is very well educated and is trained as an ophthalmologist. Part of his
appeal is he is descended from both Tajik and Pashtun lineage. He was the main
contester in the 2009 presidential elections but lost to Hamid Karzai due
to rampant election fraud. He has chosen to team up
with Muhammad Khan from the political arm of the Gulbiddin Hikmatyar's
Hizb-i-Islami and also Mohammad Mohaqiq -
a leading Hazara personality and former warlord. Abdullah has
indicated that if elected president of Afghanistan he would sign the
Bilateral Security Agreement with the United States.
12.
Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai. Ghani is
an economist, a former
finance minister, a former World Bank executive (10 years), and is known as an anti-corruption technocrat.
He is an intellectual with a clean image. he holds a doctorate degree from
Columbia University where he studied international relations and
anthropology. He has taught at several universities in the United States
to include Johns Hopkins University (10 years). Ghani is also a former dean of Kabul University and was at one
time the head of the transition coordination commission. However,
he has raised questions with his choice of a warlord -
General Abdul
Rashid Dostum. Dostum is clearly a contentious figure although he will
command much of the Uzbek vote. Dostum is an opportunist warlord who
switches sides quite frequently - having supported the pro-Soviet regime,
the jihadist, and other factions in the shifting political landscape of
Afghanistan. He also ran in the 2009 election. At age 64, he is considered
to be a technocrat.
Other Presidential Candidates
Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf. Some
observers say that there are four leading candidates with Sayyaf running
as a distant fourth choice. He is an
ethnic Pashtun and former warlord from Paghman. He is a well-known
Salafist, he is an influential religious scholar, and continues to have connections to jihadists. He has some human rights issues that he
needs to manage from his past (the Hazaras are not fond of him). Rumor has it he may be one of the
candidates favored by Hamid
Karzai. He is a controversial candidate as he invited Osama Bin Laden into
Afghanistan in 1996 and has been named as a mentor to the mastermind of
9/11 - Khaled Sheikh Mohammed. At one time he studied in Cairo and was
influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood. During the Soviet occupation he
commanded a militia group that fought the Russians. He has spent time as an MP (from
Kabul) in the
Afghan parliament. He is the leader of the Dawat Party - the former
mujahedin faction Ittihad-e Islami. A former MP of Kabul. One of his
running mates is Ismail Khan - the warlord from the Herat region. Although
he has a storied past he has reinvented himself as a religious scholar,
statesman, and influential lawmaker. In several speeches in recent months
(Jan 2014) he has presented a moderate voice showing support for the
Bilateral Security Agreement and expressed the need for continued
assistance from the west. He is considered to be running fourth in the
pre-election polls and a candidate that makes the U.S. most anxious. The
Philippine terrorist group, Abu Sayyaf, is named after him.
Dr. Zalmai Rassoul. He is a former
foreign minister, national security advisor, and minister of civil
aviation. He is 70 years old and a descendant of Afghanistan's royal family.
He is a nephrologist by training (a medical professional specializing in
kidneys). Rassoul is widely viewed as the preferred candidate of President
Hamid Karzai. He has
picked a female to be on his ticket as a vice-presidential nominee; Habiba
Sarobi is a reformist governor of Bamiyan province. There are worries that
Rassoul will be a puppet of Hamid Karzai should he become president. He is
unmarried, has no children, study in France and has a medical degree.
NOTE: Rassoul came in a distant third in the April 5th election. NOTE:
Rassoul declared his support for Abdullah in Mid May which will certainly
hlep Abdullah in the run-off election..
Qutbuddin Helal. He was the
former spokesperson of Hezb-e Islami Hekmatyar in the 1990s and is
considered an Islamist leader. A member of
the Hezb-e Islami peace delegation. He has ties to the insurgent leader of
the Hezb-e-Islami -Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. He is also considered close to
Hamid Karzai. He is running as an independent and has never held a
post-2001 government post.
Gul Agha Sherzai. He is a
Barakzai Pashtun from Kandahar. He has served as a
governor of Nangahar and Kandahar provinces. His powerbase was in southern Afghanistan
at one time. He fought as a mujahidin commander against the government of
President Mohammad Najibullah. He is one of the most corrupt Afghan politicians ever; well . . .
except for Hamid Karzai. Only he could make a worse president than Hamid
Karzai.
Hedayat Amin Arasala. He was born
in 1942, grew up in Kabul and is experienced in international affairs. A former
senior minister of the Afghan government. He joined the World Bank in 1969
where he worked for 18 years. He earned a bachelor's and masters degree
from
Southern Illinois University. During the Soviet occupation of
Afghanistan he served as a senior advisor and member of the Supreme
Council of Afghan Unity of Mujahedeen. In 1993 he became foreign minister
in the post-communist era. He played a key role at the Bonn Conference in
2001.
Daud Sultanzoi. He is a former
lawmaker, a member of parliament from Ghazni province. He is a Pashtun and
spent more than 20 years working as a pilot for United Airlines and Aryana
Airlines. He selected Wahidullah Shahrani as his first vice president and
Ibrahim Qasmi as his second vice president. Born in 1952, he is 62 years
old. He attended Habibia High School in Kabul and received a degree in
engineering from Kabul University. He later attended advanced studies in
the U.S. for aviation and became a pilot. During the Soviet Union's
occupation of Afghanistan he lived in Saudi Arabia.
Candidates Who Withdrew Within Weeks of
Election
Qayum Karzai. The older brother of
Hamid Karzai, he will represent one of Afghanistan's most powerful Pashtun
families if elected. He would also ensure that Hamid Karzai would not face
any corruption charges due to his extremely corrupt regime stealing
billions of dollars meant for development and the growth of the ANSF.
A businessman, Qayum Karzai
is associated with the failed Kabul Bank and would surely continue the
movement of foreign aid money from Kabul to Dubai into the Karzai coffers. Qayum would represent
the Movement for the Support of the People. He has chosen the former
Minister for Mines Wahidullah Shahrni who is an ethnic Uzbek as his first
Vice presidential nominee. A third brother, Mahmoud Karzai, received
extensive loans that were never asked to be paid back - Mahmoud was never
charged. Mahmoud has come in support of Abdullah (late May endorsement). NOTE: Qayum Karzai dropped out of the race in early March.
General Abdul Rahim Wardak.
Wardak is a former mujahideen commander, senior level officer in the
Afghan National Army. He most recently served as the Defence Minister for
several years and security advisor to the president. NOTE: Wardak
dropped out of the race in mid-March 2014.
15.
Sardar Mohammad Nader Naeem. A
grandson of King Zaher Shah. He has dropped out of the race and reportedly
has come out in favor of Hamid Karzai's stooge - Zalmai Rassoul.
Disqualified Candidates
Many of the candidates who registered for the
presidential election were disqualified by the Independent Electoral
Commission (IEC). 17 presidential candidates were disqualified on October
22, 2013. Some of the requirements to be a candidate include 40 years of
age, no criminal record, no dual citizenship, 100,000 signatures of
support from 20 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces, and a deposit of 1 million
afghanis (or $18,000). View the list of
disqualified
candidates for the 2014 Afghan election.
Other Sources Providing Info on
Presidential Candidates
National Public Radio (NPR) provides descriptions
of the remaining eight candidates running in the presidential election in
"Afghanistan's Next President Will Be . . .", April 2, 2014.
www.npr.org/blogs . . . afghanistans-next-president-will-be
Description of Afghan Presidential Candidates by
Radio Free Europe
www.rferl.org/ . . . candidate-biographies/25146037.html
You can view a
complete list of presidential candidates who were running as of October
2013 at Registan.net.
http://registan.net/2013/10/07/afghan-candidates-for-president-in-2014/
"A Look at the candidates for Afghan president",
The Washington Post, April 1, 2014.
http://apps.washingtonpost.com/ . . . afghan-president/906/
Return to Top of Page
The Afghan Political Parties
Afghanistan Electoral Alliance. A
coalition consisting of a dozen opposition political groups states that
they will select a single candidate to run in the election. With the
strong personalities dominant in this diverse group of Tajiks, Uzbeks,
Harzara and others it is unlikely to band behind one single candidate. Key
leaders in the alliance include Abdullah Abdullah (former presidential
runner-up in 2009), General Dostum, Atta Mohammad Noor, and Mohammad
Mohaqeq. The alliance is calling for a more decentralized government with
more authority given to the provinces. This party has also been called the
National Coalition of Afghanistan.
National Understanding Forum. The
forum is an alliance of about ten political parties that are mostly from
the Pashtun community. The forum is currently (Sep 2013) led by Pir Sayed
Ishaq Gailani; a parliamentarian from eastern Afghanistan.
Afghanistan Eastern People's Alliance.
A group of tribal leaders and politicians from the eastern regions of
Afghanistan.
Movement for Change in Afghanistan.
This is the political party launched by the female candidate - Fawzia
Koofi. 7.
Return to Top of Page
Organizations and Resources on Afghan Election
Afghanistan Election Data. National Democratic
Institute.
http://afghanistanelectiondata.org/
National Democratic Institute - Afghanistan
www.ndi.org/afghanistan
2014 Presidential and Provincial Council Elections
- UNAMA
http://unama.unmissions.org/Default.aspx?tabid=13936&language=en-US
Transparent Election Foundation of Afghanistan
(TEFA)
www.tefa.org.af/
Free & Fair Election Forum of Afghanistan (FEFA)
www.fefa.org.af
Afghanistan Election 2014 by Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghan_presidential_election,_2014
Afghan Elections 2014 - Observation and Analysis
http://afghanelections14.com/
Return to Top of Page
Papers and Publications on Afghan Elections
(Listed in chronological order)
Johnson, Thomas H., The Myth of Afghan
Electoral Democracy: the irregularities of the 2014 presidential election,
Naval Postgraduate School, 2018.
https://calhoun.nps.edu/handle/10945/61603
Halloran, Lauren Kay, "American Export: Elections",
The Atlantic, November 7, 2016.
www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/11/afghanistan-election-democracy-karzai-taliban/506639/
FEFA, Election Observation Report,
March 31, 2015. Free & Fair Election Forum of Afghanistan.
http://www.fefa.org.af/index.php/press-release/238-fefa-released-the-observation-report-of-2014-elections
EUEAT, Final Report: Afghan Presidential
Elections, European Union Election Assessment Team, December 2014.
www.eueom.eu/files/dmfile/FINAL-REPORT-EUEAT-AFGHANISTAN-2014-c_en.pdf
Coburn, Noah. Lessons from 2009 and 2010,
Afghan Elections Blog, Aug 13, 2014.
http://afghanelections14.com/2014/08/13/lessons-from-2009-and-2010/
Agin, Joanna. Afghanistan's Fraught Political
Transition and Implications for Its Security Beyond 2014, Institute
for the Study of War (ISW), 20 July 2014.
www.understandingwar.org/sites/default/files/Elections%20piece%20updated%209%20JUL.pdf
Katzman, Kenneth. Afghanistan: Politics,
Electons, and Government Performance, Congressional Research Service,
June 23, 2014.
http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/228734.pdf
IFES. Elections in Afghanistan: April 5
Presidential and Provincial Council Elections, International
Foundation for Electoral Systems, March 28, 2014. FAQ on the Afghan
election.
www.ifes.org/Content/Publications/FAQ/2014/Elections-in-Afghanistan.aspx
Haress, Ghizaal. Adjudicating Election
Complaints: Afghanistan and the Perils of Unconstitutionalism,
Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU), March 2014. Case study of
2010 Afghan Special Election.
www.areu.org.af/EditionDetails.aspx?EditionId=729
Barakzai, Zekria. 2014 Presidential and
Provincial Council Elections in Afghanistan, United States Institute
of Peace, October 30, 2013. The author is a senior policy advisor to
Afghanistan's anticorruption office. He paints a more positive picture of
the electoral process and situation than others; but based on his
background he should be very knowledgeable on the Afghan election.
www.usip.org/publications/2014-presidential-and-provincial-council-elections-in-afghanistan
Tchalakov, Mara.
The Northern Alliance Prepares for Afghan
Elections in 2014. Institute for
the Study of War, August 2013.
Jamiat-e Islami, or Society of Islam, remains one of Afghanistan’s oldest
and most influential Tajik-dominated political parties, originally forged
as a tanzim
or political-military organization. Afghan history suggests that any stable
political accommodation after 2014 will be contingent upon incorporating
the interests of Jamiat-e Islami. The engagement of key Jamiat-e Islami
politicians will be critical to a smooth regime transition in Afghanistan
as the country veers toward a post-Karzai era.
www.understandingwar.org/report/northern-alliance-prepares-afghan-elections-2014
Bijlert, Martine van. How to Win an Afghan
Election: Perceptions and Practices, Afghanistan Analysts Network
(AAN), 2009.
www.afghanistan-analysts.org/ . . . Win-Afghan-Election.pdf
Registan. The Challenges of Electoral Security
in Afghanistan, Registan.net, April 3, 2014. The writer
examines security challenges for the April 5, 2014 election.
http://registan.net/2014/04/03/the-challenges-of-electoral-security-in-afghanistan/
Return to Top of Page
Videos about the Afghan 2014 Elections
April 3, 2014. "Politics in Panjshir: Life on the
Afghan campaign trail", Stars and Stripes. (7 minute long video).
www.stripes.com/ . . . the-afghan-campaign-trail-1.275943
April 2, 2014. "Flash Analysis: Afghanistan's
Presidential Election". Akbar Ayazi, Radio Free Europe's regional director
for Afghanistan and Pakistan provides his insight on the election.
Discusses the leading candidates and provides info on security for the
elections. Fraud is considered the major concern; not security. (3.5
minutes).
http://www.rferl.org/media/video/afghanistan-flash-analysis/25318927.html
March 5, 2014. "Dialing into the Afghan
Elections". NATO TV. A video about the Independent Election
Commission's public awareness campaign.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFWlLZmfBEc
Return to Top of Page
News Articles about the 2014 Election
December 17, 2014.
"EU Observers Say Afghan Democracy Suffers Blow From Election Fraud".
Radio Free Europe.
December 16, 2014.
"E.U. Confirms Wide Fraud in Afghan Presidential Runoff Election".
The New York Times.
September 22, 2014.
"Ghani is new president of Afghanitan, officlal says". CNN World
News. IEC declares Ghani winner.
September 18, 2014.
"Afghanistan's stability depends on two presidential contenders reaching a
deal". The Washington Post.
September 17, 2014.
"Afghan security forces prepare for election annoucement". Stars
and Stripes.
September 16, 2014.
"Afghan election commission acknowledges 'massive' vote fraud".
Business Standard.
September 13, 2014.
"WA deputy major recunts tense time as Afghanistan election monitor",
ABC News. Article describes the highly-charged environoment and life as an
election monitor.
September 10, 2014.
"Afghan talks could continue after inauguration". AP Newswire.
August 12, 2014.
"Afghanistan after 2014 Elections: US as a Strategic Partner?",
Eurasia Review, by Halimullah Kousary.
August 12, 2014.
"Why the Afghan election still isn't over". The Washington Post.
August 10, 2014.
"Despite agreement, Afghan vote review still slow as deadline looms".
Stars and Stripes. The tedious process of validating votes is
described.
July 31, 2014.
"Afghan Vote Audit Resumes Saturday, But Troubles Remain". VOA.
July 28, 2014.
"Afghan vote audit stalls amid daily arguments". Stars and Stripes.
July 27, 2014.
"US and NATO step up to overcome Afghan electoral dispute". Stars
and Stripes.
July 23, 2014. "In Kabul, vote recount delayed in
dispute over what constitutes a fraudulent ballot." The Washington
Post.
July 22, 2014.
"Afghan election crisis and SCO". EurasiaReview.
July 20, 2014.
"Afghan elections: Audit of disputed run-off halted". BBC.
The slow pace of the electoral process has affected the nations' economy.
June 29, 2014.
"Amid Claims of Fraud, Afghan Presidential Candidate Vows More Deadlock".
The New York Times.
June 18, 2014.
"Afghanistan's 2014 Run-Off Election: An Observer's Account". The
Diplomat. An independent observer of the 2014 Afghan general
elections offers his impressions of Afghanistan's 2014 run-off vote.
June 16, 2014.
"Abdullah says fraud gave his rival a million vote lead in Afghan vote."
Reuters.
June 15, 2014.
"Election day violence in Afghanistan higher than initially reported".
Stars and Stripes. 506 security incidents killing 33 civilians
and wounding 63. Eleven voters had their fingers cut off in Herat.
June 15, 2014.
"Afghan election: Taliban chopped my finger off". BBC News Asia.
June 15, 2014.
"UN in Afghanistan decries mutilation of voters in western province".
UN News Centre.
June 14 2014.
"NATO Secretary General congratulates Afghan people on elections".
NATO.
June 14, 2014.
"In Afghanistan's rural Wardak, fear of Taliban keeps voters away".
Chicago Tribune. Some voters had their dyed fingers cut off, some
polling centers did not open, charges of fraud were made, and many polling
centers saw very few voters because of the Taliban intimidation.
June 14, 2014.
"ISAF congratulates the Afghan people and ANSF on historic election".
DVIDS. Over 6,200 polling centers were secured across the country.
June 14, 2014.
"Afghanistan Election: 46 people killed in violence as 60% brave polls".
International Buisness Times.
June 14, 2014.
"Senior UN officials congratulate Afghans on presidential run-off". UN
News Centre.
June 14, 2014.
"Afghan Election: Ballot Shortages Show Lessons Not Learned". RFE.
June 13, 2014.
"Recap: Afghanistan Votes 2014". The Wall Street Journal.
June 13, 2014.
"Afghanistan prepares for presidential election runoff amid fears of
violence". The Guardian.
June 11, 2014.
"Who could become Afghanistan's next president". The Washington
Post. A profile of the two runoff election candidates - Ghani and
Abdullah.
May 22, 2014.
"Observers predict fierce campaigns as runoff ballet gets started".
Stars and Stripes.
May 22, 2014.
"Success of Elections Shows Taliban Losing the Afghan People".
American Forces Press Service.
May 21, 2014.
"Afghan election body sacks thousands over fraud ahead of run-off".
Reuters.
May 18, 2014.
"Post-Election Afghanistan to Repeat History?" The Diplomat.
Coalition building among Afghan powerbrokers, warlords, and presidential
candidates a reality.
May 15, 2014.
"Top Afghan presidential candidates head to runoff". Stars and
Stripes.
May 13, 2014.
"Lessons from Afghanistan: Warlord politicians aren't always bad for
democracy". The Washington Post.
May 5, 2014.
"What will a runoff do to turnout?" Afghan Elections 2014.
May 2, 2014.
"Early Responses to Preliminary Results". Afghan Elections 14.
May 2, 2014.
"Dempsey Calls Election 'Turning Point' for Afghan Forces". American
Forces Press Service.
May 1, 2014.
"New Fears Over Afghan Election Runoff". Eurasia Review.
April 30, 2014.
"The Afghan Elections: An Afghan Awakening". By Robert Mihara,
E-International Relations.
April 24, 2014.
"Afghan presidential election set for Abdullah-Ghani run-off".
Reuters.
April 23, 2014.
"Dostum as VP?". Afghan Elections 14.
April 22, 2014.
"Reports of Fraud and Violence in One Troubled District". The New
York Times.
April 22, 2014.
"Afghanistan's 2014 Election: An Observer's Account". The
Diplomat.
April 22, 2014.
"Afghan Election Runoff, Likely, Early Results Suggest". NBC News.
April 17, 2014.
"Afghan Presidential Elections: implications and the road ahead -
analysis". Eurasia Review.
April 16, 2017.
"Impartiality Critical to Ensuring Afghanistan's Election Credibility".
Asia Foundation.
April 16, 2014.
"Afghan election results sorted out behind closed doors". Stars
and Stripes. There is a lot of secrecy in the vote counting and
outside observers that wish to validate the legitimacy of the election
have been barred from viewing the process. This, of course, is not helpful
to the international communitie's acceptance of the election; However, we
can predict that ISAF will continue to nurture the glow of successful
elections (it is all part of their IO campaing!).
April 7, 2014.
"Afghan Vote Counting Under Way in Presidential Poll". Radio Free
Europe.
April 6, 2014.
"In Taliban stronghold, a scared electorate". The Washington Post.
The positive reports of election day security should be tempered with an
acknowledgement that not all districts had a good turnout due to Taliban
intimidation.
April 6, 2014.
"The Aftermath: Accusations of Fraud and Undermining Votes".
Afghan Elections 2014 Blog.
April 6, 2014.
"Taliban fail to disrupt Afghan elections, but future still uncertain".
Stars and Stripes. While the Taliban were successful in
intimidation of voters in their traditional strongholds in some rural
areas they did not affect the vote on a nationwide level.
April 6, 2014.
"Leadership in Karzai's shadow: Afghanistan's next president to win vote,
not total control", The Washington Times.
April 6, 2014.
"Karzai, Western Leaders Praise Historic Afghan Presidential Election".
Radio Free Europe.
April 5, 2014.
"ISAF congratulates the ANSF on securing historic elections". DVIDS.
April 5, 2014.
"NATO Secretary General congratulates Afghan people on elections".
NATO Press Office.
April 5, 2014.
"Inky Fingers and Wet Feet - Polling Day". Afghanistan
Analyst
Network (AAN).
April 5, 2014.
"Remarkable turnout for Afghan vote despite Taliban threat". The
Globe and Mail.
April 5, 2014.
"Relief Follows Afghanistan's Mostly Peaceful Landmark Vote". Voice of
America.
April 5, 2014.
"Afghanistan election held despite threat of violence" UPI.
Despite Taliban threat, very little violence during Afghanistan's first
democratic election in modern history.
April 5, 2014.
"Afghanistan Elections". Press Statement by United States Secretary of
State John Kerry.
April 5, 2014.
"A day of hope, as Afghans vote, but a long process ahead". Stars
and Stripes.
April 5, 2014.
"Relief in Afghanistan after largely peaceful landmark election".
Reuters.
April 5, 2014.
"With Modern Election, Voters Make a Break From Old Afghanistan".
National Public Radio (NPR).
April 5, 2014.
"The Election day in snapshots from the provinces". Afghanistan
Analyst Network (AAN).
April 5, 2014.
"Afghans Defy Threats to Pick A President". National Public Radio.
April 5, 2014.
"Chairman, ISAF Chief Salute Afghans for Security Elections". American
Forces Press Service. General Dunford congratulates the ANSF for security
over 6,200 polling stations.
April 5, 2014.
"Elections 2014: Snapshots from the provinces before the vote".
Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN). Reports from the field convey
enthusiasm, insecurity, suspicions of fraud, or just resignation.
April 5, 2014.
"Afghan hope prevails as presidential election day arrives". The
Guardian.
April 5, 2014.
"Afghanistan Blocks Election Day Texting". Radio Free Europe.
April 5, 2014.
"Afghanistan votes in historic presidential election". BBC News Asia.
April 4, 2014.
"Backroom Intrigue Persists in Afghan Presidential Election". N NPR.
April 4, 2014.
"Two Associated Press journalists shot, one fatally, in Afghanistan".
UPI.
April 4, 2014.
"Elections 2014: Impressions from Kunduz at the eve of the elections".
Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN). Article looks at the police ability to
secure insurgency riddled districts, poor performance of the IEC, and the
role of militias.
April 4, 2014.
"Securing Afghan polling sites: 849th MAC conducts joint operation to
support tomorrow's presidential election". DVIDS. 849th helps ANSF
clear roads.
April 4, 2014.
"Between Afghans and Political Milestone, Threat of Violence Looms".
NPR. The first ever democratic transfer of power will also see lots of
fraud and violence.
April 4, 2014.
"3rd SOK commandos prepare for elections". DVIDS. The commandos are
ready to respond to any election day violence in Kandahar.
April 4, 2014.
"As election looms, Afghanistan's history offers lessons - and hope".
The Christian Science Monitor.
April 3, 2014.
"The Campaigns for Kabul". The New York Times. Article
highlights the issues surrounding the presidential election.
April 3, 2014.
"Fears of Violence, Fraud Cloud Afghan Presidential Election". Voice
of America.
April 3, 2014.
"Elections and Foreigners: An analysis of recent Taleban violence".
Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN). AAN examines the Taleban targeting of
foreigners and non-combatants.
April 3, 2014.
"4 Reasons Elections Won't Fix Afghanistan". The Diplomat.
The Afghan security forces are still a work in progress, Taleban still
enjoy sanctuaries in Pakistan, regional militant groups (as in
IMU) still operate in Afghanistan, and warlords still retain much
influence and power.
April 3, 2014.
"Peaceful power handover in Afghan will protect gains: Kerry".
Business Standard (India).
April 3, 2014.
"Afghans largely left to monitor their own election". Stars and
Stripes.
April 2, 2014.
"The
contenders in the Afghan presidency race". BBC News Asia.
April 2, 2014.
"Afghan Youth for Democracy? Not all of them". Afghan Analysts Network
(AAN).
April 2, 2014.
"In Afghan presidential election, pro-Western front-runners compromise to
woo votes". The Washington Post. Three front runners
identified.
April 2, 2014.
"Afghanistan's Next President Will Be . . . ". NPR.
April 2, 2014.
"US urges safe, fair Afghan elections". The Hill Blog.
April 2, 2014.
"Afghanistan - Call for more security for journalists covering
presidential election". Thomson Reuters Foundation.
April 2, 2014.
"U.S., eyeing exit and mindful of past, keeps distance from Afghan
elections". Chicago Tribune.
April 2, 2014.
"Despite violence and threats, Afghans show enthusiasm for upcoming
election". PBS Newshour.
April 2, 2014.
"Concerns over fraud precede Afghan election". UPI.
April 2, 2014.
"Election Candidate Among Slain Afghan Abductees". Radio Free Europe.
April 2, 2014.
"Security Lockdown in Kabul as Election Nears". Radio Free Europe.
April 2, 2014.
"Afghan authorities deploys more than 95,000 troops for elections".
Central Asia Online.
April 2, 2014.
"Marginalized Sikhs 'Don't Care' about Afghan Election". Radio Free
Europe.
April 2, 2014.
"War and Unrest Provide for a Scarred Campaign Trail in Afghanistan".
The New York Times.
April 2, 2014.
"In Bullet-Ridden Afghan Districts, Free Vote Seems Like an Empty
Promise". The New York Times. The reality of Afghanistan is
that the Taleban still control many rural districts such as Charkh
district in Logar province - and it is doubtful if people will even vote.
April 2, 2014.
"Afghanistan Deploys Security Forces Nationwide to Secure Polls".
Voice of America.
April 2, 2014.
"What if the Afghan elections actually work?" CNN News.
April 1, 2014.
"Rigging the Afghan Vote". The New Yorker. A dismal view of
the election process in Chak district, Wardak province.
April 1, 2014.
"What to Watch in the Elections: Voter Registration". AAN.
April 1, 2014.
"To Protect Foreigners, Afghanistan Shuts Down Their Hangouts". The
New York Times. Restaurants and hotels can reopen after the
election.
April 1, 2014.
"Afghanistan presidential candidates key to fate of nation, legacy of US".
Stars and Stripes.
March 31, 2014.
"With No Karzai on Ballot, Afghans Study Presidential Candidates".
National Public Radio.
March 31, 2014.
"A Pivotal Year in Afghanistan: 2014 Presidential Election and the Planned
Drawdown of U.S. and NATO Forces". Brookings Institute.
March 31, 2014.
"Taliban abduct provincial candidate in Afghanistan". Stars and
Stripes.
March 31, 2014.
"Afghan Presidential Candidates Cancel Debates". Radio Free Europe.
March 31, 2014.
"Warlords may decide Afghan elections". The New Zealand Herald.
Warlords will throw their vote to a favorite during the runoff election.
March 31, 2014.
"Abdullah Sees Surprise Win Making Him Afghanistan President".
Bloomberg News. Seeks to avoid a runoff.
March 31, 2014.
"What the Polls Tell us About the Afghan Presidential Election".
Afghanistan Analyst Network.
March 30, 2014.
"Tea, Soup, Sweets - - And a Little Bakshish Crucial to Afghan
Campaigning". Radio Free Europe Afghan Election 2014 Blog.
March 30, 2014.
"In Afghan Presidential Campaign, North is All-Important". The New
York Times.
March 30, 2014.
"Afghanistan 2014: political transition". Open Democracy.
March 29, 2014.
"Credibility of Afghan Vote in Doubt as Foreigners Flee Violence".
The New York Times.
March 29, 2014.
"RC Southwest officials discuss election with Helmand, Nimroz leaders".
ISAF News.
March 29, 2014.
"Afghanistan's election results will need a calm response from the U.S.
and partners". The Washington Post Opinions.
March 29, 2014.
"Insurgents attack election commission compound in Afghan capital".
The Washington Post.
March 27, 2014.
"Afghan Election: First Round or Nothing for Abdullah". Radio Free
Europe. A run-off would pit him against one of the eight Pashtuns in
the race.
March 27, 2014.
"Afghan Candidate's Bachelor Status Comes Under Fire". Radio Free
Europe. Zalmai Rasul's run for presidency is hurt by his unmarried
status.
March 27, 2014.
"Third Candidate Withdraws From Afghan Presidential Race". Radio
Free Europe. Sardar Mohammad Nader Naim withdraws and throws his
support to former Foreign Minister Zalmai Rasul.
March 24, 2014.
"In Afghan presidential race, wooing votes with warlords". Stars
and Stripes.
March 24, 2014.
"Fear of violence sends foreigners packing ahead of Afghanistan's
presidential election". Stars and Stripes.
March 20, 2014.
"Bold attacks raise security fears as Afghan election nears".
Stars and Stripes.
March 19, 2014.
"Afghan Elections 2014: What to Expect? - Analysis". Eurasia Review.
March 17, 2014.
"Dividing the Field: Who shapes the electoral landscape in a Herat
township - and how?" Afghanistan Analysts Network. An
analysis of the electoral process at the local level that centers around
the residents socio-economic survival.
March 16, 2014.
"Taliban Violence Threatens to Disrupt Afghan Vote". Voice of
America. ISAF says the threats are meant to provide a perception of
insecurity with the hope of diminishing election turnout and thereby
disrupting and discrediting the election.
March 14, 2014.
"Afghan Security Forces focus on Upcoming Election". American
Forces Press Service. COMISAF provides context of election security.
March 13, 2014.
"Afghan vote won't be trouble-free, U.N.'s Ban says". UPI.
March 10, 2014.
"Afghans Find Their Way". Center for American Progress. This paper
provides an analysis on three transitions underway in Afghanistan and how
U.S. policymakers and the international community can support these
transitions.
March 8, 2014.
"U.S., Afghan military try to get out the vote, prevent Taliban disruption
of key election". The Washington Post. This news article
depicts the difficulty of securing remote districts so that fair elections
can take place.
March 7, 2014.
"Karzai's brother says he quit Afghan presidential race in favor of
moderate". U.S. News and World Report.
March 7, 2014.
"Rethinking Needed on Afghanistan - Analysis". Eurasia Review.
This article examines the different political factions and importance of
the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA).
March 6, 2014.
"U.S. Role in Afghan Vote". The New York Times. Opinion on
elections by former assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs.
March 6, 2014.
"Afghan Presidential Candidates Debate Foreign Policy". Salem News.
Three of the eleven candidates discuss foreign policy.
March 5, 2014.
"Karzai brother to withdraw from Afghan presidential race: rival".
Chicago Tribune. It appears that Qayum Karzai may withdraw from the
race and through his support to a rival.
March 4, 2014.
"A Month Before Afghan Election, Karzai Maneuvers to Retain Influence".
Radio Free Europe. Three of the eleven candidates identified as
surrogates for Hamid Karzai - placeholders for influence going into
elections.
March 4, 2014.
"Afghan elections key test for new security forces". USA Today.
February 28, 2014.
"Afghan Warlord in Election Turnaround". Institute for War & Peace
Reporting. Gulbuddin Hekmatyar pursues war and ballot presence.
February 19, 2014.
"Abdullah aims for knock-out blow in Afghan elections". Japan
Times. Hopes to garner 50% of the vote in the first round of voting.
February 16, 2014.
"Afghan Presidential Hopefuls Debate Corruption, Peace, Women's Rights".
Radio Free Europe.
February 14, 2014.
"Afghan Youth Debates: Concerns About Youth Awareness of Polls".
Institute for War & Peace Reporting. Some question whether the
elections are being advertised enough by the Afghan government.
February 9, 2014.
"West hopes for best of worst in Afghanistan". The Chronicle
Herald. A Canadian observer comments on Afghan presidential
candidates.
February 9, 2014.
"Afghanistan: Candidates' Position on Rights in Spotlight". Human
Rights Watch. Afghan contenders respond to survey questions by HRW.
February 9, 2014.
"Afghanistan's Future: Who's Who in Pivotal Presidential Election".
NBC News.
February 6, 2014.
"Former warlord launches campaign to succeed Karzai". The
Washington Post. News article about Abdul Rab Rasoul Sayyaf.
February 6, 2014.
"Candidates for Afghanistan's presidential election". Charlotte
Observer. A profile of the eleven candidates is provided.
February 5, 2014.
"Afghanistan: UN official says women's participation 'key measure' of
election's success". UN News Centre.
February 5, 2014.
"Asia 21 Young Leaders Help Make History in Afghanistan Presidential
Debate". Asia Society.
February 2, 2014.
"As campaign begins, Afghans look for results, not promises".
Stars and Stripes. Empty promises by Karzai disappoint Afghans.
January 30, 2014.
"U.S. cancels funds for Afghan polls ahead of elections". Reuters.
Accusations of election meddling have forced the cancellation of the
polls.
January 23, 2014.
"Afghanistan's Presidential Election Goes Awry". Brookings.
The institute sends a memo to President Obama with recommendations for the
Afghan elections.
January 21, 2014.
"As Taliban steps up attacks, can Afghanistan hold peaceful national
polls?" Christian Science Monitor security Watch.
January 11, 2014.
"Afghan officials say own troops to secure election". The
Washington Post. An Afghan spokesman expressed confidence that the
ANSF will be able to provide security for many of the election polling
stations.
January 2, 2014.
"Looking Ahead: Why 2014 Will Be A Huge Year for Afghanistan".
KGOU. Andrew Wilder of the USIP provides the U.S. some
recommendations on its approach to the Afghan elections.
December 28, 2013.
"Why Afghanistan's election campaign may look familiar to American TV
viewers". World News NBC. Afghan TV mimics the U.S. TV
networks.
December 27, 2013.
"Facing Big Changes, Anxious Afghans Hope for the Best in 2014".
NPR Parallels. Afghan's worry about the elections, women's rights,
slowing economy, lack of security, and the Taliban.
December 20, 2013.
"Taliban conflicted over how to disrupt elections". Army Times.
December 18, 2013.
"Controversial ID Cards Expose Ethnic Divisions in Afghanistan".
Radio Free Europe.
December 10, 2013.
"Afghanistan Faces Crucial Year of Elections, Security Transition".
Voice of America. There will be fraud and abuse in the Afghan
election; the question is just how messy will it be.
December 4, 2013.
"A Conversation with Afghanistan Governance & Elections Expert Idrees
Ilham". In Asia.
December 4, 2013.
"Afghanistan: UN lauds appointment of media commission as key step for
2014 elections". UN News Centre.
December 4, 2013.
"ISAF Ministers encouraged by preparations for 2014 Afghan elections".
NATO.
December 2, 2013.
"Lack of Cash, Monitors Adds to Afghan Election Troubles". Voice
of America.
November 21, 2013.
"Afghan Youth Debates: What's the Point of Voting?" IWPR.
November 17, 2013.
"Decoding the Afghan Elections - Analysis". By Raghav Sharma,
Eurasia Review.
November 14, 2013.
"Security Worries Raised at Afghan Election Debate". Institute for
War & Peace Reporting.
November 7, 2013.
"Officials: Few Afghans registered for 2014 vote". Las Vegas Sun.
Only 1/4 of eligible voters have registered with just for days left in
registration period.
October 29, 2013.
"Afghan police unable to deliver election materials to Taliban-controlled
areas". Stars and Stripes.
October 26, 2013.
"Disqualification of Afghan Presidential Candidates Sparks Row".
Radio Free Europe. The IEC provides no explanation of why candidates
were disqualified.
October 25, 2013.
"Will the Next Afghan President be a Pen, Radio, or Bulldozer?"
Radio Free Europe. For each of the presidential candidates there will
be a symbol on the ballot paper as well as the photograph and name of each
candidate.
October 24, 2013.
"Only Woman Running for Afghan President Gets Disqualified". Time.
Intrigue and acrimony already swirls around Kabul.
October 23, 2013.
"Afghan presidential candidate field narrowed down to 10". Foreign
Policy. The IEC drops candidates because of disqualification.
October 22, 2013.
"Afghan commission disqualifies 16 candidates from running for president
in April election". The Washington Post. Almost all major
candidates survive the cut; most are eliminated because of dual
citizenship, inadequate registration paperwork, lack of college degree.
October 22, 2013.
"And then there were ten: Preliminary final list of presidential
candidates out". Kate Clark - Afghanistan Analysts Network.
October 21, 2013.
"Afghan election candidates warned over phone bombs". Global Post.
The Afghan Intel service (NDS) warns presidential candidates.
October 20, 2013.
"Afghanistan Isn't Ready to Vote". by Sarah Chayes, Carnegie Endowment
for International Peace.
October 20, 2013.
"An Exit Strategy From Afghanistan". The New York Times. A
discussion about the ability of the Afghan elections to hold country
together.
October 17, 2013.
"Afghanistan: Towards a brighter future or darker past?" BBC News
Asia. An international correspondent comments on election outcomes.
October 14, 2013.
"Warlords Seen as a Losing Ticket in Afghan Election". Radio Free
Europe. Dostum, Ismail Khan, and others found on ballots for Afghan
president.
October 8, 2013.
"As Afghan Presidential Race Begins Warlords are Prominent".
National Public Radio. One specific contender, Abdul Rab Rasoul
Sayyaf, has many very worried.
October 7, 2013.
"Ahead of Afghan elections, warlords and bureaucrats prepare campaigns".
The Washington Post.
October 7, 2013.
"Controversial Afghan candidates stir election". Google News.
October 6, 2013.
"Warlords and politicians rush to register for Afghanistan presidential
election". The Telegraph. Abdullah Abdullah among the many
candidates to register.
October 3, 2013.
"Afghanistan: preparations for elections 'creating a more positive
environment,' says UN official". UN News Centre.
September 18, 2013.
"Nominations Open in Afghan Election for Karzai Successor". Radio
Free Europe.
September 10, 2013.
"Ahead of Presidential Vote, Afghan Political Forces Divide Along Ethnic
Lines", Radio Free Europe.
September 1, 2013.
"Afghan Parties Jockey for Power Ahead of Presidential Vote".
Radio Free Europe. A detailed look at the current campaign.
August 26, 2013.
"Afghan Leader in Pakistan to Discuss Peace Talks". The New York
Times.
August 25, 2013.
"In Afghanistan, Karzai vows not to interfere with election of next
president". The Washington Post.
August 3, 2013.
"UN Mission in Afghanistan welcomes appointment of members to electoral
body". UN News Centre.
July 31, 2013.
"Karzai backers seek delay in Afghan vote". The Washington Post.
July 24, 2013.
"Afghan election will be a bellwether". The Washington Post.
An much-improved election law passed by parliament and signed by Karzai
provides hope that the Afghan elections will be held after all.
July 15, 2013.
"UN mission welcomes progress on key Afghan election law ahead of 2014
polls". UN News Centre. The law will regulate the structure
and responsibilities of the country's electoral management bodies.
July 15, 2013.
"Afghan legislators approve new election law ahead of 2014 presidential
poll". Fox News. The law, yet to be signed by President Karzai
will govern how the presidential and provincial council elections are run
next year.
July 8, 2013.
"Helmand Gathering Calls for Afghan Election Delay". Institute for
War & Peace Reporting. Gathering attributed to Karzai manipulations.
July 7, 2013.
"Norway threatens to cut Afghan aid". Fox News. Norway, one
of the top ten aid donors to Afghanistan, threatens to cut aid because of
a lack of progress with election reform. Good to see that at least one
country has a clue.
July 5, 2013.
"Post-2014 Afghanistan: Another King Upon an Ant Hill". Small Wars
Journal. A paper on choices to make about the future of Afghanistan.
July 4, 2013.
"A Guide to Afghanistan in Four Scenarios - Analysis". Eurasia
Review. A writer presents four possible scenarios for the upcoming
election.
July 3, 2013.
"Credible 2014 elections vital to progress on Afghan transition - deputy
UN chief". UN News Centre.
July 3, 2013.
"Donor nations demand Afghan laws to ensure fair elections". Fox
News. Some finally realize, to late, they are getting "played" by
Karzai.
June 9, 2013.
"Fraud-free Election is Crucial for Afghanistan". Daily Outlook
Afghanistan. Corruption and limited rule of law are
constraints.
June 3, 2013.
"Afghans lay groundwork for 2014 election". The Washington Post.
May 28, 2013.
"Choosing sides in Afghanistan". Los Angeles Times. Article
by Max Boot endorses US intervention in the Afghan election.
May 27, 2013.
"Afghanistan Begins Registration for 2014 Elections". Radio Free
Europe.
May 26, 2013.
"Karzai's brother plans independent run in Afghan election".
Reuters.com. Qayum Karzai to run as candidate with the Movement for
the Support of the People or De Woles De Mulatar Baheer. His win would
spare Hamid Karzai of any investigation of the massive corruption
prevalent in his administration.
May 26, 2013.
"Afghanistan Begins New Voter Registration Push". Democracy
Chronicles. Registration in preparation for 2014 elections.
May 26, 2013.
"Voter registration for Afghan presidential election begins". The
Washington Post. Poor security will be a major challenge to the
process.
May 2013.
"Prospects for Afghanistan's 2014 Elections". United States Institute
of Peace.
May 18, 2013.
"ANSF plans security for 2014 national election". RC-East.com.
April 15, 2013.
"Majority of Afghans intend to take part in upcoming elections, survey
reveals". ReliefWeb.
April 15, 2013.
"Take the Bilateral Security Agreement out of Afghan Politics".
Carnegie Endowment. Sarah Chayes says to hold off negotiations with
Karzai.
April 9, 2013.
"Credible Afghan Presidential Vote Hinges on Process, Politics".
ReliefWeb. Article discusses the pitfalls and promise of the upcoming
election.
April 1, 2013.
"A Better Afghanistan: Will require a better president". Max Boot,
The Weekly Standard. Boot advocates that the U.S. influence the
Afghan election.
February 20, 2013.
"Afghanistan's Fawzia Kooki will stand in presidential elections".
The Star. A popular female MP will run supporting Afghan women and
opposing corruption.
February 11, 2013.
"Official Stresses Importance of 2014 Afghan Elections". American
Forces Press Service.
November 5, 2012.
"With election day set, many Afghans doubt vote will be fair".
Stars
and Stripes.
August 20, 2009.
"5 Thoughts on the Afghan Election". Huffington Post.
Return to Top of Page
Endnotes
1. For more info on the fears of a corrupt
election see "With election day set, many Afghans doubt vote will be
fair", Stars and Stripes, November 5, 2012 accessed
here.
2. For more on the fraudulent voter registration
cards issued by Karzai in 2009 and the reasoning for new ones to be issued
in their place see "Afghanistan on the Brink of Disaster", Diplomat
Courier, by Nasir Shansab, May 23, 2013 accessed
here.
3. Sarah Chayes testified on May 21, 2013. The
transcript entitled "Prospects for Afghanistan's 2014 Elections" can be
viewed
here on the Carnegie Endowment website.
4. According to the head of the IEC voter
registration teams will not go to unsecured areas (see news article in
Radio Free Europe dated 27 May 2013
here).
5. For a list of some of those selected to be on
the IEC by Karzai see "Karzai appoints new members of Afghan electoral
body", Fox News, July 29, 2013. Accessed
here.
6. Quote from FM 3-24.2, Tactics in
Counterinsurgency, Chapter 7, "Stability Operations Considerations in
Counterinsurgency", April 21, 2009, page 7-17. FM can be accessed
here.
7. Read a news article about Fawzia Koofi
here entitled "Afghanistan's answer to Hillary Clinton: Fawzia Koofi
launches bid to be president", NBC World News, September 26,
2013.
8. For more on the selling and buying of voter
cards see "Votes sell for about $5 in Afghanistan as presidential race
begins", Chicago Tribune, October 15, 2013. Story available
online
here.
9. To see the list of presidential candidates
dropped in October 2013 by the IEC see "Eight Afghan presidential hopefuls
dropped from contenders list", Business Standard, October 20,
2013 available
here.
10. One long-term observer of the Afghan scene
(having lived there from 2002 to 2012) - Sarah Chayes does not think the
Afghans are ready for an election - that it is too soon. Read a recent
article by Sarah entitled "Afghanistan Isn't Ready to Vote", Bloomberg
News, October 21, 2013 available
here.
11. The only female candidate was
disqualified; read
more in "Afghanistan's only female presidential candidate demands
right to run", The Telegraph, October 25, 2013.
12. For more on the Bilateral Security Agreement
and Abdullah Abdullah see a
news story on CNN published on Feb 3, 2014.
13. For more on the ineffectiveness of the Afghan
Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) read "Afghanistan's election
watchdog plagued by delays, funding woes", Reuters, February 6,
2014. See
news story here.
14. For more on the Taliban and the 2014 elections
read The Taliban's View of the 2014 Elections, by Michael Semple,
United States Institute of Peace, January 30, 2014.
www.usip.org/publications/the-taliban-s-view-of-the-2014-elections
15. Read more on Wardak dropping out of
presidential race in "Ex-defense minister drops out of Afghan presidential
race", Stars and Stripes, March 16, 2014. See news story
here.
16. Read a
story about targeting of Afghan Election Commission workers in "9
killed in attack on Afghanistan election commission", Stars and
Stripes, March 25, 2014.
17. See "How to Commit Afghan Voter Fraud in a Few
Simple Steps". Radio Free Europe. A correspondent from Australian
describes how he registered to vote.
18. For more info on Afghan election polling
centres read Election 2014: The polling centres that were taken off
the list, Afghanistan Analysts Network, 4 April 14.
www.afghanistan-analysts.org/election-2014-2-the-polling-centres . . .
19. For more on election monitoring see "Afghans
largely left to monitor their own election", Stars and Stripes,
April 3, 2014.
www.stripes.com/news/afghans-largely-left-to-monitor-their-own-election-1.276009
20. For more on locations of polling stations see
"Concern over polling in Afghan schools and clinics", IRIN Humanitarian
News and Analysis, April 2, 2014.
www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=99875
21. See Most Afghans Lack Confidence in
Elections, Gallup World, April 2, 2014.
www.gallup.com/poll/168200/afghans-lack-confidence-elections.aspx
22. For more on the lack of international
monitoring of the 2014 elections see Under Fire: The status of the
2014 election observation, Afghanistan Analysts Network, April 5,
2014.
www.afghanistan-analysts.org/under-fire-the-status-of-the-2014-election-observation
23. ISAF congratulated the ANSF and stated that "
. . . their brave and heroic actions demonstrate their dedication to a
secure, stable and unified Afghanistan". See Chairman, ISAF
Chief Salute Afghans for Security Elections, American Forces Press
Service, April 5, 2014.
www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=121989
24. For initial assessment of voter turnout see a
story posted by Reuters on April 5, 14.
25. For more on the election results in Nerkh
district, Wardak province read "In Taliban stronghold, a scared
electorate", The Washington Post, April 6, 2014. See story
here.
26. For more info on voting by ethnic group see a
news report - "Afghanistan's presidential election got high turnout,
but many still voted along ethnic lines", The Washington Post,
April 7, 2014.
27. For more on Abdullah's call for end to vote
count see "Afghan candidate calls for end to vote count; could further
delay security agreement", Stars and Stripes, June 18, 2014
available
here.
|
