Yesterday Jed Ober, one of DI’s core staff members in Kabul, attended an ECC Press Conference, and provided the following update on the complaints process:

At 3 PM Kabul time the ECC held a press conference at which the Chairman, Grant Kippen, provided an overview of the complaints process to this point and took questions. Here is a summary of the pertinent information:

• 2,187 complaints were filed during polling and counting of which 2,089 have been assessed and categorized.

• 652 of these complaints are considered ‘category A’ complaints which if determined valid could have a material effect on the result.

• Of the category A complaints, 87% concern polling irregularities(ballot stuffing, intimidation, ink issues, accusations against PC/PS staff) and 6% concern counting irregularities.

• Baghlan ranks highest with 71 category A complaints. Kabul (55) and Kandahar (39) are next highest.

• The ECC  has sent investigation teams to Ghazni, Paktika and Kandahar (2) provinces who are investigating category A complaints. Provincial ECC officials have also been tasked with investigating complaints.

• The number of complaints does not necessarily reflect the number of decisions the ECC will make.

• Most of the complaints filed relate to the presidential election and are not classified as against a particular candidate but against a particular PS or PC.

• It is also difficult to gauge the number of votes each complaint could effect as it’s possible complaints could overlap PSs and PCs and the ECC is not tracking complaints at this level.

• At this point, only complaints regarding the tally process are being accepted. All complaints must be adjudicated prior to certification of the results and it was made clear that the ECC will conduct thorough investigations, although Kippen was confident they have the staff to conduct timely investigations.