MCIT can play very crucial role in conducting future elections

MCIT can play very crucial role in conducting future elections, “The CSOs Team”

Representatives of the Afghan civil society organizations including FIFA met his Excellency Mr. Abdu-Razaq Vahidi on Tuesday (8^th September, 2015) at his office to learn about MCIT’s future plan for supporting a free and fair election in Afghanistan. Engineer Naeem Asghari, the FIFA’s Programme Manger quickly introduced his fellows and provided details on a recent joint position paper released by FIFA, civil society organizations and political parties.

He said: “Fortunately, recently FEFA conducted a series of participatory discussions with various civil society organizations and political parties that resulted to a joint position paper on future elections.”  Mr. Asghari confirmed that the position paper was welcomed by high level Afghan officials including the CEO and the president. Mr. Asghari added, “In addition to other measures, there are two important clauses on the use of information technology and digital platforms to ensure transparency and raise public awareness regarding election and its importance for the future of democracy in Afghanistan. Therefore, we are here to know your suggestions and ask your support for the process technically”.

All other members of the team respectively talked about the joint efforts so far, and addressed some specific questions to MCIT part and asked Mr. Vahidi to put highlight on MCIT’s future plans on the following issues:

1. Is it possible for MCIT to equip 34 provinces with internet connections that can help in electronic transfer of data such as voters list and result sheets?

2. What is MCIT’s plan for keeping the electoral data safe and secured?

3. Is it possible to establish and use electronic systems throughout the country?

4. What is your latest progress on electronic ID card distribution?

5. Could we start advocating with various International communities to support you with financial resources to launch electronic voting system if MCIT can lead it?

Following the discussion, Mr. Vahidi thanked the team and responded the questions raised by the visitors. He said, as part of the MCIT’s electronic governance program a Technical Working Group (TWG) has been recently assigned to conduct an in-depth study on the existing resources and possible challenges throughout the provinces and also come up with a clearly formulated plan to connect the election sites to networking facilities throughout the country so as to help Electoral Bodies transfer the data and information faster and  more secured way from district and provincial locations to their headquarters in Kabul.

He added, “We have planned to use ICT tools for multi-purposes; for instance doing biometrics of the Afghan citizens both for sim-cards’ registration and for the purpose of preventing the voters from repeated or replaced voting using forged election cards or finally, for the use of electronic card distribution. If we succeed to complete this process by the coming elections, it will gradually give us a useful baseline and will also ease the process of ID card distribution throughout the country.”  

In addition, he expressed MCIT’s strong commitment to public awareness raising regarding the election and also assured the visitors that MCIT would be ready, if agreed at the higher strategic level, to support the election process using its Afghan-Sat and Fiber Optic Network and Afghan Telecom facilities. “Currently the OPC is connected to 25 province centers and the project is also being implemented in another 10 provinces. Thus, we will need fewer financial resources to expand internet coverage to the district centers. We are now working with MoE to agree on equipping schools with internet labs and facilities that can be alternatively used for election purpose as well.”

Finally, the civil society activists emphasized on the role that MCIT can play for ensuring  more transparency in future elections, and asked H.E the Minister l to come up with a clear and detailed plan on the use of ICT tools for decreasing chances for fraud and ballot stuffing. Mr. Vahidi, concluded the meeting by reiterating that “MCIT is and will be ready fully to support the Afghan election process” and he also asked the team to advocate for more funding for the gradual digitalization of the electoral process.