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The Independent Election Commission (IEC) on Sunday said government’s decision to roll out the electronic identity cards (e-NIC) has nothing to do with the commission’s work. 

IEC operational deputy chairperson, Wasima Badghisi said the Afghanistan Civil Registration Authority (ACCRA) will start rolling out of paper ID cards on 21 February and the move will mark the first step towards starting the voter registration process on 4 April. 

“The rolling out process of electronic identity cards has no links with the programs of the commission and this is also in contrast with our planning. We have managed our programs and the e-NIC department has to start the rolling out process of paper IDs,” said Badghisi.

She said government’s decision to roll out the e-NIC process is too late for these parliamentary elections, adding that the elections will be a paper-ballot and that paper ID cards will be used. 

Badghisi went on to say that the IEC has finalized the timeline for elections and that the commission will make the date known four months prior to elections, in line with the law.

“We are at a critical stage of the election calendar. The assessment of polling centers has wrapped up, now employees are being trained on the voter registration procedures,” added Badghisi. 

Meanwhile former vice president Younus Qanooni has warned that the country will face another crisis if reforms are not put in place in the election system and that if elections are not held as scheduled.  

“Today the elections have become a big challenge; if the stakeholders and politicians do not organize the elections under the pretext of political, security, technical and economic issues at the time scheduled, this will push the country towards a crisis,” said Qanooni. 

The election commission has scheduled parliamentary and district council elections for July 7 of this year.

The commission said government’s move to start issuing electronic identity cards has nothing to do with the scheduled elections for this year. 

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The Independent Election Commission (IEC) on Sunday said government’s decision to roll out the electronic identity cards (e-NIC) has nothing to do with the commission’s work. 

IEC operational deputy chairperson, Wasima Badghisi said the Afghanistan Civil Registration Authority (ACCRA) will start rolling out of paper ID cards on 21 February and the move will mark the first step towards starting the voter registration process on 4 April. 

“The rolling out process of electronic identity cards has no links with the programs of the commission and this is also in contrast with our planning. We have managed our programs and the e-NIC department has to start the rolling out process of paper IDs,” said Badghisi.

She said government’s decision to roll out the e-NIC process is too late for these parliamentary elections, adding that the elections will be a paper-ballot and that paper ID cards will be used. 

Badghisi went on to say that the IEC has finalized the timeline for elections and that the commission will make the date known four months prior to elections, in line with the law.

“We are at a critical stage of the election calendar. The assessment of polling centers has wrapped up, now employees are being trained on the voter registration procedures,” added Badghisi. 

Meanwhile former vice president Younus Qanooni has warned that the country will face another crisis if reforms are not put in place in the election system and that if elections are not held as scheduled.  

“Today the elections have become a big challenge; if the stakeholders and politicians do not organize the elections under the pretext of political, security, technical and economic issues at the time scheduled, this will push the country towards a crisis,” said Qanooni. 

The election commission has scheduled parliamentary and district council elections for July 7 of this year.

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