Electoral Process for Afghanistan 2004 Topics

Electoral Process for Afghanistan 2004

Topics • HISTORY • ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED • VOTERS REGISTRATION • ELECTIONS • PRESIDENT/VICE PRESIDENTS • LEGISLATIVE BODIES

HISTORY • Bonn Agreement • Involved: Delegations Kabul, Rome, Cyprus, Independent • When: 27 Nov - 5 Dec 200[3] 1 • Results: Interim authority and agenda for establishing A broad based, gender sensitive, multi ethnic and fully rep. • Emergency Loya Jirga • How Many: 1500 Elected + 200 Appointed • June 10 th 2002 official opening • June 13 th 2002 President Karzai appointed as chairman of TISA • June 19 th 2002 President Karzai announced his Cabinet. • Constitutional Loya Jirga • Nov 2002 - January 04, 2004 three stages: • drafting, completion and approval • 502 members (450 elected and 52 appointed) • Purpose, results

HISTORY • Feb 2002 establishment of UNAMA ELECTORAL COMPONENT(UEC) • 1 ST Work plan, budget and voter registration strategy. • June 2003, Draft Plan and Budget completed for nationwide registration • Plan abandoned on grounds of Cost as full UN project • July 2003 Establishment of Interim Afghan Election Commission (IAEC) and Joint Election Management Body (JEMB). UN core budget approved to enable Int’l staff recruitment. Major proportion of voter registration project (VRP) to depend upon voluntary donations. • New Work Plan & Budget for August 2003 starting date of Registration • for nationwide registration. Voluntary Funding not provided, Plan abandoned. • New Work plan and Budget for phased and limited registration to start December 2003 in 8 Regional cities launched October 2003. • December 1 st Registration starts as planned, in deteriorated Security. • February 2004 Presidential Decree creates Afghan JEMB Secretariat, to replace UEC to implement VR Project, UEC becomes Advisory.

ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED JEMB Secretariat United Nations & Advisory UEC Security Institutions Ministry of Interior Ministry of Defense ISAF and Coalition Joint Electoral Management Body (JEMB) UNAMA, UNDP, UNOPS International Support GRS, NDI, IFES, TAF

ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED JEMB • Established by presidential decree July, 2003 • 6 Afghan members • 5 Int’l members (appointed by SRSG) • Legal authority to conduct VR and 2004 elections • Functions • • • Establishment of the regulatory framework Supervision of the JEMBS Registration of candidates Deciding or referring complaints, disputes, challenges Advising on whether the elections are free and fair Certify, announce and facilitate implementation of results • All 2004 election plans and orders issued by/in name of JEMB

ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED UNAMA • Monitor, report, investigate and make recommendations on the exercise of political rights and other political/electoral processes. Conduct dialogue with local leaders and commanders to encourage participation. • Assist the government in attaining the political benchmarks required for a credible election. • Through the EAD and UEC provides international staff with UNDP Managed Voluntary Funding to the JEMB Secretariat (JEMBS) responsible for: • Supporting the JEMB and AIEC in the exercise of their functions and implement JEMB policy and decisions. • UEC provides advice, capacity building and support.

ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED Security Institutions • MOI for elections has oversight of all Afghan security forces • MOI / MOD / ISAF / Coalition will provide security during the elections

VOTERS REGISTRATION Voters Registration Phase I: December 01 2003 to April 31, 2004 • 1. 876, 536 Eligible Voters Phase II: May 01 to August 20, 2004 • 9 Millions Eligible Voters.

OUT OF COUNTRY REGISTRAITON and VOTING • • • May 30, the JEMB reached a decision. IOM selected to conduct Out-of-Country electoral processes. MOUs presented to Iran and Pakistan on the May 31 and June 01. MOUs signed on 12 July (Iran) and 20 July (Pakistan). Consequently, 120 day plan reduced to 90 day plan, accepted by JEMB on July 11 th. Pakistan to include both Registration and Voting. Accordingly, significant reduction in the scale of the registration and voting coverage in Pakistan Registration started on October 01 and ended October 04. Over 700, 000 people registered, 28% women. In Iran voting by Afghan refugees identified by being holders of the Iranian issued Amayesh Card. Election in Iran and Pakistan will be simultaneous with Afghanistan.

Elections • How president elected • More than 50% of votes cast • If not majority, run-off election • two candidates with most votes • held within two weeks • Elections 30 -60 days before end of term • Term is five years • Term expires 1 st of Jawza, 5 th yr after election • Pres/VP limited to two terms

Presidential Elections: Timeline 26 th July nominations close July 10 th July Nominations Open 29 th July Candidate list published 20 th August End of Voter Registration August 10 th August Final list of candidates published Media commission established 7 th September Campaign opens 6 th October Campaign closes September Ballot papers arrive in Kabul 15 th September October 9 th October Polling day 30 th October Announcement of Results (if no run-off)

Run-Off Scenario 9 October Election October 6 November Announce Run -Off November 20 November Re-Vote 5 December Announce Winner December Jan. 4 January Inauguration

President / Vice Presidents • President • Requirements • • Citizen of Afghanistan Muslim Born of Afghan parents By inauguration, age not less than 40 years • Considers supreme interests of the people of Afghanistan • Cannot act based on linguistic, ethnic, religious, political and regional considerations • Vice Presidents • Two VPs, “ 1 st VP” and “ 2 nd VP” • Chosen by the President • Chain of succession • • • First Vice President Second Vice President Chair of the Meshrano Jirga Chair of the Wolesi Jirga Foreign Minister

Legislative Bodies Wolesi Jirga Meshrano Jirga (Lower House) (Upper House) • 249 representatives • Distribution based on provincial population • Popular elections Membership: # of Prov x 3 1/3 1/3 District Councils Provincial Councils Pop <20, 000: 5 members … Pop >100, 000: 15 members Pop <500, 000: 9 members Pop to 1, 000: 15 members … Pop >3, 000: 29 members President