Reuters, Kabul :
Afghan authorities have received more than 3,000 reports of violations from last weekend’s presidential election, exceeding the tally following a 2009 vote that was marred by widespread fraud.
But just half the 3,103 complaints registered so far will be investigated, a complaints commission spokesman said, since the rest were reported by telephone and lacked the required supporting evidence.
The three frontrunners have all complained of fraud in the April 5 vote meant to usher in Afghanistan’s first democratic transfer of power, as incumbent Hamid Karzai prepares to step down after more than 12 years as head of state.
Midnight on Monday was the deadline for reporting fraud and any irregularities, but the final figure is expected to rise as reports flow into Kabul along with ballot boxes from around the country.
A final tally could take days to become available, since observers, voters and other parties all had means to lodge complaints at polling stations.
“As soon as we get them, it is clear the final number is going to increase,” said Nader Mohseni, spokesman for the Independent Election Complaints Commission.
“We cannot ignore the fact that during the elections, there were instances of fraud and electoral violations.”
