More than 230,000 election observers to oversee Afghanistan polls

Those who have been accredited to observe the polls represent embassies, political parties and movements, election watchdogs, civil society, media and candidates, said Syed Hafizullah Hashimy, a spokesman for Independent Election Commission.
A total of 234,514 election observers, including 19 foreigners, have been accredited to monitor the polls and the number may increase as one day is left to the end of registration of observers, according to the official.
Afghanistan’s long-delayed parliamentary election is scheduled for October 20 after repeated delays over disagreement about how to reform the election system after a presidential vote in 2014 that was marred by accusations of mass fraud.
The upcoming polls will involve use of biometric technology for the first the time to address concerns about possible fraud.
There have been reports claiming flaws in the devices. Hashimy, however, rejected the reports.
He said that the devices had been transported to all the provincial centers and that the training process would be completed by Thursday or Friday.