Musings from the Field: Articles from our Afghanistan Election Observers

Democracy International (DI) deployed provincial observer teams to 14 provinces across Afghanistan to observe elections for the country’s Wolesi Jirga (lower house of parliament), scheduled for September 18. They oversaw all phases of Election Day, including opening procedures, voting, the closing of polling stations, and the count. 

DI’s delegation comprises experts in Afghan politics, democracy assistance, election administration and civil society. The mission consists of 22 technical and expert staff, 18 Long Term Observers (LTOs) and 50 Short Term Observers (STOs) from 18 countries, including Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Lebanon, Mexico, Palestine, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Read some of their personal opinions and observations of Afghanistan and Election Day after the break.

Their opinons expressed in the attached publications are those of the authors and do not neccessarilt reflect the views of Democracy International.  

 Danielle Bayar
“Afghanistan Election Watch Part 1: Location, Location, Location”.

Democracy and Society, September 17, 2010.

Available at http://www.democracyandsociety.com/blog/2010/09/17/afghanistan-election-watch-pt-1-location-location-location/

Danielle Bayar

“Afghanistan Election Watch Part 2: Actual Results May Vary”.

Democracy and Society, September 24, 2010.

 Available at http://www.democracyandsociety.com/blog/2010/09/24/afghanistan-election-watch-pt-ii-actual-results-may-vary/

“Opinion: What I Saw at Afghanistan’s Elections”.

AOL News, September 22, 2010.

 Available at http://www.aolnews.com/opinion/article/opinion-what-i-saw-at-afghanistans-elections/19644041

Michael Cohen

“Only the U.S. Military Is Hopeful About Afghanistan”.

The New Republic, October 12, 2010

 Available at http://www.tnr.com/blog/foreign-policy/78312/only-the-us-military-hopeful-about-afghanistan?page=0,0

“Paul Freeman: Election Day in a war zone”.

Orange County Register, October 1, 2010.

 Available at http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/-269114–.html

“Parlimentary Elections in Afghanistan: Observations from the Ground”.

PSA Online, September 24, 2010.

 Available at http://blog.psaonline.org/2010/09/24/parliamentary-elections-in-afghanistan-observations-from-the-ground/

“E-day in Kabul”.

Foreign Policy, September 17, 2010.

Available at http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/09/17/e_day_in_kabul

Benjamin Skinner

“The Vote Comes to Afghanistan’s Peaceful Heartland”.

Foreign Policy, September 20, 2010.

 Available at http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/09/20/the_vote_comes_to_afghanistans_peaceful_heartland?page=0,0

“Essay: Amid Broader Political Crisis, Afghan Elections Will Resolve Little”.
PBS, September 17, 2010.

Available at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/blog/op-ed-amid-broader-political-crisis-afghan-elections-will-resolve-little/6158/

Caroline Wadhams

 “The Afghanistan Heads Back to the Polls: An International Election Observer’s Impressions”.
Center for American Progress, October 6, 2010.

 Available at http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/09/20/the_vote_comes_to_afghanistans_peaceful_heartland?page=0,0

And accompanying media at http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/10/afghan_elections_slideshow.html