Afghanistan Election Observation Mission 2014 Final Report

in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The mission aimed to observe and assess the integrity of the 2014 presidential and provincial council elections in Afghanistan. The observation mission was deployed in April 2014 and remained in the country until the completion of the audit process in June 2014. The mission was led by a core team of experts, including Jed Ober, Director of Programs, and Greg Minjack, Chief of Party. The team was supported by long-term observers and a delegation of experts on legal and political issues. The mission received exceptional support from the Bethesda-based program team, including Will Covey and Michael Cowan, who managed observer recruitment and deployment logistics. The observation mission was conducted in three phases: the pre-election period, the election day observation, and the post-election audit process. During the pre-election period, the mission observed the campaign activities of presidential candidates and assessed the security environment. On election day, the mission observed the voting process and tallying of results. The post-election audit process was conducted to verify the accuracy of the results and address complaints from candidates. The mission observed significant challenges in the election process, including procedural deficiencies and security concerns. The presidential runoff election, held in June 2014, was marred by controversy and allegations of fraud. The audit process was conducted to address these concerns and ensure the integrity of the election results. The mission made several recommendations to improve the election process in Afghanistan, including strengthening the electoral management bodies, improving voter registration, and enhancing the security environment. The mission also emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in the election process. The Afghanistan Election Observation Mission 2014 was a significant effort to support democratic development in Afghanistan. The mission demonstrated the commitment of Democracy International, Inc. and its partners to promoting free and fair elections in the country. The mission's findings and recommendations provide valuable insights for future election observation and reform efforts in Afghanistan. The mission's core team and observer delegation showed incredible commitment to the mission, participating at considerable personal risk to support Afghanistan's ongoing democratic development. The mission received exceptional support from the Bethesda-based program team and a group of dedicated Afghans led by Rasheedudin Meraj and Shukrullah Rahmanzai. The mission's report provides a comprehensive assessment of the 2014 presidential and provincial council elections in Afghanistan. The report highlights the challenges faced by the election process, including procedural deficiencies and security concerns. The report also provides recommendations for improving the election process in Afghanistan, including strengthening the electoral management bodies, improving voter registration, and enhancing the security environment. The mission's report is based on the collective views of the observer delegation and is informed by Democracy International's ongoing effort to support election reform in Afghanistan through the Afghanistan Electoral Reform and Civic Advocacy (AERCA) program. The report is a valuable resource for policymakers, election officials, and civil society organizations working to promote democratic development in Afghanistan.