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| 2018 Afghan parliamentary election | |
|---|---|
| Election name | 2018 Afghan parliamentary election |
| Country | Afghanistan |
| Type | Parliamentary |
| Previous election | 2010 Afghan parliamentary election |
| Previous year | 2010 |
| Next election | 2024 Afghan parliamentary election |
| Next year | 2024 |
| Seats for election | Meshrano Jirga and Wolesi Jirga |
| Election date | 20 October 2018 |
2018 Afghan parliamentary election
The 2018 Afghan parliamentary election, held on 20 October 2018, elected members to Afghanistan's Wolesi Jirga and affected representation connected to the Meshrano Jirga, involving political figures from provinces such as Kabul, Herat, and Kandahar, and intersecting with security concerns tied to the Taliban (Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan), the NATO mission, and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. The vote followed delays since the 2010 Afghan parliamentary election and preceded subsequent reforms debated by the National Unity Government (Afghanistan) and leaders including Ashraf Ghani, Abdullah Abdullah, and members of the High Peace Council (Afghanistan), amid international attention from states such as United States, Pakistan, and India.
Years of postponement stemmed from political negotiations among figures like Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, constitutional issues involving the Afghan Constitution, and security deterioration due to the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021). Previous polls in 2010 Afghan parliamentary election and the 2014 Afghan presidential election illustrated factional competition among networks tied to former leaders such as Hamid Karzai and political coalitions including members of the Wolesi Jirga. International actors including the United Nations, European Union, and NATO urged preparations while insurgent campaigns by the Taliban (Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan) and attacks attributed to Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province affected logistics in provinces like Helmand Province and Nangarhar Province.
Seats in the Wolesi Jirga were allocated under the Single Non-Transferable Vote system across multi-member constituencies corresponding to Afghanistan's provinces of Afghanistan, with reserved quotas for women and the Hazara people and for the Kuchi people. The legal framework derived from the Afghan Constitution and electoral law enforced by the Independent Election Commission (Afghanistan) and overseen by the Electoral Complaints Commission (Afghanistan), while international standards referenced documents from the United Nations and observers from organizations such as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the European Union Election Observation Mission.
Thousands of candidates registered, including prominent figures such as former ministers, provincial leaders, and activists connected to networks like the Junbish-i Milli, Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin, and members of the Hazara leadership. Campaigning occurred in urban centers like Kabul and Herat, and in rural districts influenced by local strongmen and commanders linked to the historical conflicts such as the Afghan Civil War (1992–1996). Women candidates faced pressure from conservative factions and threats from groups including the Taliban (Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan), while civil society organizations such as the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission and electoral observers from the United Nations Development Programme monitored candidate lists and campaign incidents.
On 20 October 2018, voting occurred amid security operations by the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police with support from NATO-led Resolute Support Mission units in some areas; several polling centers in provinces such as Kandahar, Faryab, and Uruzgan Province were closed due to attacks claimed by the Taliban (Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan). The Independent Election Commission (Afghanistan) managed voter registration and ballot distribution, while the Electoral Complaints Commission (Afghanistan) began receiving complaints about irregularities, and international observers from the European Union and United Nations reported on turnout issues, logistical failures, and security incidents.
Results were delayed and released in phases by the Independent Election Commission (Afghanistan), with prominent winners including independents, former parliamentarians, and figures associated with political groupings linked to provinces like Balkh and Nangarhar Province. The quota system ensured reserved seats for women and Kuchi people representatives; allocation disputes involved interpretations of the Single Non-Transferable Vote mechanics and provincial seat apportionment. International reactions from capitals such as Washington, D.C., Islamabad, and New Delhi focused on legitimacy and the impact on parliamentary balance among blocs tied to leaders like Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah.
A wave of complaints prompted the Electoral Complaints Commission (Afghanistan) to order recounts and audits in multiple provinces, leading to legal challenges in the Supreme Court of Afghanistan and negotiations within the Meshrano Jirga and Wolesi Jirga over seating. Accusations involved alleged fraud, ballot tampering, and administrative failures, with interventions by international actors including delegations from the United Nations and the European Union urging transparent resolution. High-profile annulments and seat reallocations affected political figures linked to networks such as Junbish-i Milli and provincial elites from Helmand Province and Badakhshan Province.
The election reshaped parliamentary composition, influencing legislative dynamics related to appointments overseen by the presidency of Ashraf Ghani and power-sharing arrangements with Abdullah Abdullah within the National Unity Government (Afghanistan). The delayed and contested process weakened public confidence as measured by civil society groups like the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission and affected negotiations with insurgent actors including the Taliban (Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan) and outreach by the High Peace Council (Afghanistan). International partners such as United States Department of State and the European Union linked assistance and reform incentives to electoral credibility, while subsequent reforms to the Independent Election Commission (Afghanistan) and calls for legislative electoral law changes remained focal points for political actors in provinces including Kabul, Herat, and Kandahar.