During the third round of the vote invalidation process, the Independent Election Commission (IEC) on Friday discarded results from 69 polling sites.
The announcement comes after the IEC invalidated 70 polling sites out of the total 3,846 during the first round of the process and then another 70 in the second.
According to the IEC, recounting would also still need to take place. "The technical staffs of the Independent Election Commission have decided to recount votes from 496 polling sites," said Abdul Rahman Hotaki, deputy head of the IEC.
In contrast to the first and second rounds, however, the most recent stage of the invalidation process was held without the presence of observers representing the two candidates. The campaign representatives were withdrawn this week while direct negotiations continue between Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai over the terms of their national unity government agreement.
Although international and independent Afghan observers were present during the third round of Invalidations this week, the IEC has urged the United Nations (UN) to assign more monitors.
"We request that the UN increase the number of its staff members and international observers," IEC spokesman Noor Mohammad Noor said on Friday.
The IEC has said the auditing process will be completed within the next few days. However, election officials have expressed doubt that the final results will be ready by mid next week, which is when President Hamid Karzai has requested the inauguration ceremony be held.
LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/2367
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