As Afghanistan’s August 2009 presidential elections draw closer, efforts are underway to register voters, ensuring that as many Afghan citizens as possible are able to express their preference for the next president. The Independent Election Commission (IEC) reports that over 4.4 million new voters have been registered as of March 15, with 38% being women. The voter registration campaign, however, is just one part of a comprehensive, USAID-supported effort to hold successful democratic elections in Afghanistan.
Throughout February and March, USAID has worked to re-establish the Electoral Complaints Commission, a body that will increase accountability during the elections by providing a formal mechanism for reporting violations of electoral law. Additionally, voter education seminars reached participants such as university students and the Women’s Solidarity Council. Finally, the IEC is now able to efficiently enter newly registered voters into the Voter Registration Database thanks to equipment and management support provided by USAID. Raising accountability, awareness, and technical capacity in the run-up to voting will play an essential role in ensuring transparency and fairness throughout the electoral process.