The following is a contribution from James Long, from the University of California San Diego, and a Democracy International observer.

Now that voting has finished, what is the next step in the process to count votes?

Ballots of president and provincial councils were counted fairly quickly at each polling station. Tallies and ballots were then transferred to provincial capitals, before the tallies are forwarded onto the Independent Elections Commission (IEC) headquarters in Kabul for the count and final certification. Over the past two days, Democracy International (DI)  has observed this tally process. The IEC plans to begin to release the first results on August 25^th.

What did you observe at the tally center?

The tally center is open to international observers and media, although the first day we visited we were the only monitors there and on the second day, we only saw a couple other observers. We observed boxes of polling station final vote tallies being received and opened by IEC officials. Party agents monitor at this stage, and we saw party agents and the IEC record which envelopes of final tallies were in the boxes being opened. An agent from the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) reported that one box from Kunar Province had been “quarantined” today and set aside for further examination, but he would not say what was wrong with the box or how it was received.

What happens after the tallies are received?

A first team of about 35 (at our count) data clerks enter the tallies into the computer, a process we could view. A second team of clerks will perform a “double-blind” entry, where they enter the same vote totals as team one, but are unable to see how the data has already been entered. If no discrepancies occur in that process, the data is recorded. If a difference exists between the two codings an IEC official goes back to the original tally form to reconcile the problem.

What were your impressions of the data entry?

The IEC allows observers to watch this process from a platform away from the data clerks. From what we could see, things were calm and running smoothly and professionally. But because only IEC officials are allowed on the floor near the clerks and computers, it is impossible to directly observe data entry.

But there is already a backlog in the number of tally sheets that have been received at the center but not entered into the computer tally. So while the count process is generally slow in Afghanistan given the geographic and security challenges of receiving votes from provinces back to headquarters, the entering of data is incurring significant delays in Kabul. The tally center is not open around the clock and could probably use additional data entry clerks. The size and design of the ballot also makes coding difficult. We timed one clerk who took 28 minutes to enter the presidential and provincial results from one polling center.

Did you learn of any other challenges or delays?

We were told by another international observer that about half of the total ballots had been received as of last night (Monday), with about half of the provinces remaining. The IEC has received the tallies from Kabul, but is apparently waiting to begin processing them and instead focus on other provinces. We were told that once tallies are received in Kabul, they can be recorded in three days.

The fourth in a series of videos from Democracy Internationals Election Observation Mission to Afghanistan. These videos provide a window into Democracy Internationals observation mission, and focus on the election itself, the security situation, the role of election observers, the media, the participation of women, and the results of the election. In this video, one of DI’s Long-Term Observers takes a trip to Panjsher province and reports on election preparations. These videos are produced by the Democracy International Afghanistan media team. For more information, please visit www.democracyinternational.com/afghanistan, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DemocracyIntl, or email us at press@democracyinternational.com.

Bill Gallery is senior program officer for our Kabul mission, and a spokesman. Here he provides an update on what DI’s team is seeing in Herat.

Herat, located in western Afghanistan in the province of the same name, is the main political and economic center of that region. It is the second largest city in the country, and supported President Karzai by a good margin in 2004, though not as much as some provinces in the south and east. The most prosperous city in Afghanistan, Herat is also generally seen as relatively safe and secure, though the recent uptick in violence has not left it unaffected. Earlier today, DI’s observers in Herat gave an update on what they are seeing in the city:

-Security remains a key concern here as elsewhere. In Guzara district, immediately south of the city, election officials plan to close 14 polling centers for Election Day.

-Women are actively involved in the campaign process. However, female candidates face intimidation and difficult campaign conditions outside the city. Most female candidates seem to not be campaigning in districts outside the city, and some have reportied intimidation and destruction of campaign materials.

-There is some confusion about the role of the Provincial Council in the government. According to the constitution and practice, the councils traditionally have little formal role or power beyond advising the executive branch. During the campaign, some PC candidates have been making promises beyond the PC’s authority. Unfortunately, with little actual authority there is not much that PC candidates can campaign on.

-Meetings with internally displaced persons (IDPs) suggest that they have had great difficulty getting National ID cards and as a result many were unable to register to vote.

Our observers in Helmand sent in the following report earlier this afternoon:

Extensive interviews with Governor, EEC Chief, Chief of Police, FEFA, Prov candidates, IEC Director, PRT security, and others here in Helmand.

Preparations generally reasonable.  Some difficulty with getting ballot papers to outlying districts. Some poll workers may be young — with demands of IEC and others, competition for literate workers is high–especially given security concerns.

Security is calm at this moment, with increased threat reports. Scheduled to visit 4-6 polling centers, but this is with rolling high security caravan and subject to change based on security changes.

Estimates for turnout vary – and everyone acknowledges this is dependent on security.  Without PRT transport services of materials and personnel, this election would not happen in Helmand.

We’ll see what happens tomorrow.

From a Democracy International Observer in Jalalabad:

From local interviews:

Eastern Region (Nuristan, Laghman, Kunar and Nangarhar) – 791 out of 827 polling centers expected to open.

Nangarhar – 2 polling centers closed

Kunar – 100% polling centers open, although final deliveries are still being made and this could change slightly

Laghman – 2 polling centers located in refugee camps will be closed

Nuristan – still a mess due to logistics, and security. Current estimate is only 41 of 73 polling centers will open.  At least 2 districts will have no open polling centers: Mandol district, 9 polling centers – reports of sensitive materials mysteriously disappearing en route and then reappearing; Tvaigal district, 7 polling centers – DFC disappeared when helicopter carrying sensitive election materials arrived.

UPDATE: Pajhwok Afghan News is reporting that all polling centers will be open in the Eastern region, with centers in Nuristan relying on tribal security to protect voters.