The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) has transferred ballot boxes from a total of 15 provinces nationwide to the Independent Election Commission (IEC) central office in Kabul to undergo auditing, IEC officials said on Wednesday.
IEC officials add that ISAF is still operating countrywide in the movement of the ballot boxes from the provinces. Currently, boxes are being transported to Kabul from four additional provinces.
“Till now a total of 12,233 ballot boxes have arrived to the IEC’s office,” said IEC Spokesperson Noor Mohammad Noor. “These boxes belong to 15 provinces. The remaining boxes are arriving as well.”
In a statement ISAF stated that the election commission and the presidential candidates’ observers are strictly overseeing the process of the transfers.
“The most important thing to remember is that election materials are moved under strict chain of custody requirements, which includes eyes-on by IEC escorts at all times during the movement,” the statement read.
After an agreement was made between the two presidential candidates upon the arrival and mediation of the United States Secretary of State, John Kerry, ISAF is committed in assisting Afghanistan in the prolonged elections.