The 2019 presidential election, flawed though it might be, is the only way for power-sharing in the country where all major ethnic groups struggle for power and want to a have piece from the cake.
Afghanistan’s Independent Election Commission (IEC) announced earlier that nearly two million Afghans turned out on 28 September to vote in the 2019 presidential election despite deadly threats posed by the Taliban insurgents. Under tight security, fear of violence and despite hurdles the Afghans took part in the process.
The 2019 Afghan presidential election took place though the Taliban repeatedly warned that the group would target polling centers. An IEC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Kabul Now that according to record of biometrically verified votes 1,200,000 Afghan have voted in the election. Out of the estimated 32 million population, 8.7 million Afghans had registered to vote.
Can low turnout overshadow legitimacy of the election?
Even with minor concerns existing on whether can low turnout overshadow the legitimacy of the election, a number legal experts say low turnout will not have any effect on the legitimacy of the election and the next government.
Low turnout does not overshadow legitimacy of the election
There is not any specific number about election turnout defined by Afghanistan’s Constitution and in the country’s election law. The first clause of article 45 of the election law states, “The president shall be elected by obtaining more than 50 percent of the votes of voters through free, general, secret and direct polling.” The second clause of the same article predicts that in case none of the candidates fail to secure a 50 plus in the first round, the two leading candidates will contest in a runoff which shall be held two weeks after the announcement of final result.
Abdullah Shafayee, a legal expert and member of the Independent Commission for Overseeing the Implementation of the Constitution (ICOIC) argues that the low turnout cannot overshadow legitimacy of the election. According to Shafayee, the next government will be a legitimate government but public may not welcome it warmly.
“The turnout level does not have any effect on legitimacy of the election legally speaking,” says Abdul Qayyum Sajjadi who is a member of parliament.
Karim Pakzad, an ex-Afghan diplomat who follows the country closely, says the 2019 presidential election is legitimate as the exact number of election turnout is not defined by the Constitution.
UK Embassy in Afghanistan had also said in an earlier tweet, on October 08, that the legitimacy of the election result is not affected by turnout.
MP Sajjadi, however, believes, “a low turnout in elections suggests low reception of the political system by the people.”
Abbas Farasoo, an ex-Afghan diplomat and a PhD candidate who follows Afghanistan, believes low turnout in the 2019 presidential election may push the next government in dire striate. “The next government will escape facing challenges if it earns political satisfaction and provides efficient public services,” he added.
Niamatullah Ibrahimi, an Australia-based Afghan researcher, says in a country where the Taliban do everything to fundamentally oppose democracy a two million turnout is more than enough for electing a legitimate government.
In a country where the Taliban do everything to fundamentally oppose democracy a two million turnout is more than enough for electing a legitimate government.
Leverage in the hands of many politicians
No presidential ticket have questioned legitimacy of the election so far but a number of presidential tickets and parties have voiced concerns over election result. Concerns over final election result and its consequence may fuel a political hullabaloo given that a number of presidential candidates have repeatedly accused Ghani’s team of vote manipulation.
A former spy chief, Rahmatullah Nabil, who is running for the 2019 presidential election, appeared in a press conference just two days after the Election Day and said that widespread election fraud were staged to manipulate vote in favor of some candidates—indirectly pointing to his rivals Ghani and Abdulla. Nabil said he would not concede election result unless frauds were not properly investigated.
A day after the election, another presidential candidate, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar described the elections as fraudulent and ‘scandalous.’ He further noted that it was an illegitimate elections.
On the other hand, a spokesperson for stability and partnership ticket led by Chief Executive Abdullah, Noor Rahman Akhlaqi asserted that the low turnout will not justify a runoff.
Prior to the 2019 presidential election, a number of Afghan politicians including former Afghan president Hamid Karzai issued a statement urging the Afghan government to delay the process and accelerate peace efforts. Some Afghan politicians and political circles may use low turnout in the 2019 presidential election as a political leverage aiming to pressure the next government and gain their demands.
The 2019 presidential election, flawed though it might be, is the only way for power-sharing in the country where all major ethnic groups struggle for power and want to a have piece from the cake.
