UN envoy welcomes criteria for invalidation, recount in Afghan audit process
30 July 2014
The top United Nations official in Afghanistan has welcomed the decision to adopt criteria for the invalidation and
recount of ballots as part of the ongoing audit over the results of the presidential run-off poll.
“This decision will ensure that the audit process will lead to the invalidation of fraudulent ballots while all valid
votes will be counted, thus honouring the courage and determination of the Afghans who voted in both rounds of the
Presidential election,” said Ján Kubiš, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, in a statement released today.
Having met with the Independent Election Commission (IEC) earlier in the day, Mr. Kubiš said the Commission’s decision
to adopt the criteria means that the regulatory framework for the Presidential audit is now complete.
“It will help minimise the points of friction encountered in the audit so far. I encourage both campaigns to continue
demonstrating the political will necessary to proceed expeditiously with the audit, without any interruption,” added Mr.
Kubiš, who also heads the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
The IEC decision is based on a UN proposal founded upon international best practice. Under the technical agreement
reached by the two Presidential candidates, Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani, on 12 July, the UN was asked to propose
the manner for the international supervision of the audit, which it did after consultations with both Presidential
campaigns.
Agreed on by both of the candidates, the plan involves a complete audit of the results of the run-off held on 14 June–
roughly eight million ballots – to be held in Kabul with monitoring by national and international observers, as well as
the formation of a government of national unity, among other points.
With the process resuming on Saturday following the Eid break, the Special Representative said he looked forward to the
candidate teams continuing their participation and focusing on large-scale irregularities rather than contesting
individual ballots.
ENDS