Parliamentary Election Procedure in Afghanistan

MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 20th October, 2018) Afghans will head to polls Saturday for parliamentary elections.

Afghanistan's National Assembly is a bicameral body comprising the 250-strong lower house and the 102-strong upper house.

Under the country's electoral law, 239 lower house seats are distributed among the 34 provinces in proportion to their population, 10 seats are allocated to Afghan nomads - Kuchis, and one seat goes to Hindu and Sikhs.

One-third of upper house members are appointed by the president for a five-year term, while the rest are approved after the elections to regional councils for a three-year term in district councils and a four-year term in provincial councils.

As much as 50 percent of parliament seats are reserved for women.

As many as three out of 10 lower house seats reserved for nomads are allocated to female candidates.

The electoral process is regulated by an independent election commission.

Afghan nationals aged over 18, who are not deprived of civil rights and are on the electors' list, are allowed to vote.

Afghans, who obtained their citizenship at least 10 years before the nomination day, have not been convicted of crimes against humanity or violent crimes can run in the elections. Those who have reached the age of 25 can be elected to the lower house, while the minimum age for upper house candidates is 35.

Supreme Court members, prosecutor general, public prosecutors, ministers and governors cannot run in the elections.

The person willing to stand in the elections is requested to submit signatures or fingerprints of at least 1,000 voters supporting their nomination and residing in a respective electoral constituency. The candidates also have to pay a fee of 30,000 Afghanis (about $394).

Voters can vote only once in a constituency indicated on their voter registration card. There are separate polling stations for women.

A candidate wins after receiving the highest number of valid votes. If two candidates get the same number of votes, the winner is determined based on their education level and work experience in governmental or non-governmental organizations.