Is the biometric data used in voter identification at polling stations?

Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, IEC, Regulation on Polling for the 2019 Presidential Elections, accessed 8 September 2019

Voter’s Verification

Article 14: (1) Before getting the ballot paper, the voter shall present the original Tazkera with the VR Certificate that the Commission has specified for verification of his/her identity.

(2) The designated staff enters in the specific device the unique number of the VR certificate for verifying the inclusion of his/her name in the voters list and reconciling other information of voters.

(3) In case of inclusion of the voter’s name on the list and matching of his/her information, the biometric features of the voters are captured according to provisions of article 15 of this regulation and the applicable procedure, the voter is allowed to vote, marked in the device of this PS for exercising the right to vote and marked on the print voters list next to the voter’s name.

(4) The print voter list shall fully match with the list installed on the biometric device.

(5) If the unique VR Certificate number is not there in the list of the polling station, or if the information on the voters list does not match with the voter’s information, according to the applicable procedure, the person is not eligible in this polling station and shall be guided to the polling center or stations where his/her name is registered.

Capturing of Biometric Features

Article 15: (1) One biometric device is assigned to every polling station. The electronic list of every polling station shall be usable in the relevant polling station in the biometric device according to the applicable procedure.

(2) The print voters list of every polling station is sent to the polling station along with electoral materials. The print list has a barcode with unique number which the biometric device finds the voter list of the same polling station by reading it.

(3) One spare biometric device is assigned to every polling center. In case of not working of the device of one of the polling stations of the same center, the mentioned device is given for use to such polling station. The manner of using of it is regulated in the Polling Procedure.

(4) The designated staff captures the facial photo, photo of Tazkera and thumbprint of both hands of the eligible voter.

(5) After completion of the voters verification process and capturing of biometrics, a biometric registration code (QR Code) is printed, and affixed by the ballot paper issuer at the back of the ballot paper which is issued to this person. This shall not compromise the secrecy of ballot. To maintain secrecy of the valid votes, necessary measures are taken in the relevant procedure.

(6) The biometric devise shall be configured and programmed in a way to have the ability to link the captured information (facial photo, photo of Tazkera and thumbprints of both hands of the voter) to the voters name that is included in the voters list.