The Independent Election Commission (IEC) on Friday said the election date, announced on Thursday, may change if the government does not provide part of the election budget within a month.
The head of the IEC secretariat, Imam Mohmmad Warimach, told TOLOnews that they need the budget to prepare voters’ list as well as identify and assess electoral districts.
According to him, the IEC has asked government to provide $63 million USD out of the total $220 million USD of election budget to take the primary steps for the polls.
“If government does not provide the needs of the commission with the help of the international community and if it does not fulfill its duty, no doubt it will have impacts on the election schedule,” said Warimach.
The Presidential Palace meanwhile said donor countries have vowed to provide the budget and finance the electoral process.
“All the preparations have been taken for securing financial needs and security of the election. We expect that by good monitoring of political parties and civil society, we witness a transparent election,” said Shahhussain Murtazawi, a spokesman for President Ashraf Ghani.
Four months ago, the IEC sent a draft plan to government about reducing the number of electoral districts.
Warimach, however, said government is yet to make decision in this respect.
Meanwhile, a number of electoral monitoring organizations said that lack of budget and insecurity are main problems for the taking the electoral process further.
“We see the announcement of parliamentary elections date as game by the government to make its electoral partners busy in the current situation,” said Mohammad Naeem Ayubzada, head of Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan.
Presidential Palace has said that government is discussing the use of e-voting system with number of companies as well as with the Indian government.
On Thursday, the IEC announced the election date for parliamentary and district council elections – 7 July 2018.
The IEC chief Najibullah Ahmadzai said work is underway to ensure a free and fair election.
Ahmadzai said the IEC has learnt much from past elections and that because of the war there are problems.