IFES Election Guide | Country Profile: Afghanistan

Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

37,209,007	9
Population (as of Feb. 8, 2019)	Elections in our database
8,918,107	48.96%
Registered Voters (as of Nov. 15, 2018)	Average Turnout

Name	Official Name	Type
Afghan House of Elders	Meshrano Jirga	Upper House
Afghan Presidency	None	Head of State
Afghan House of People	Wolesi Jirga	Lower House

Description of government structure:

Chief of State: President Ashraf GHANI*
Head of Government: President Ashraf GHANI
Assembly: Afghanistan has a bicameral National Assembly (Jirga) consisting of the House of Elders (Meshrano Jirga) with 102 seats and the House of People (Wolesi Jirga) with 249 seats.

* The president is both chief of state and head of government.

Description of electoral system:

The President is elected by absolute majority vote through a two-round system to serve a 5-year term.
In the House of Elders (Meshrano Jirga), 34 members are elected by regional legislatures to serve 4-year terms, 34 members are elected by regional legislatures to serve 3-year terms and 34 members are appointed by the President to serve 5-year terms*. In the House of People (Wolesi Jirga) 249 members are elected by single non-transferable vote to serve 5-year terms.**

* Each Provincial Council elects one of its members to the House of Elders under a two-round system. (4-year term.) Each District Council elects one of its members to the House of Elders under a two-round system. (3-year term.) Due to the fact that district boundaries had not yet been established, District Councils did not elect members to the House of Elders in 2005. To compensate, provincial councils each elected two members.

** There are 34 multi-member districts corresponding to the 34 provinces. Seats are allocated in proportion to provincial population. District magnitudes range from 2 to 33. There are 34 multi-member districts corresponding to the 34 provinces. Seats are allocated in proportion to provincial population. District magnitudes range from 2 to 33. The constitution reserves 68 seats to women. However, even if a female candidate receives enough votes to win a seat without the quota system, she is still awarded a reserve seat.

Elections

2019-09-28
Afghan Presidency
Votes -
Registered -
Turnout -

2018-10-20
Afghan House of People
Votes -
Registered 8,918,107
Turnout -

2016-10-15
Afghan House of People
Votes -
Registered -
Turnout -

2014-06-14
Afghan Presidency
Votes 8,109,493
Registered 20,845,988
Turnout 38.9

2014-04-05
Afghan Presidency
Votes 7,018,049
Registered 20,845,988
Turnout 33.67

2010-09-18
Afghan House of People
Votes 4,216,594
Registered 10,300,000
Turnout 40.94

2009-08-20
Afghan Presidency
Votes 5,918,741
Registered 12,430,644
Turnout 47.61

2005-09-18
Afghan House of Elders
Votes -
Registered 12,500,000
Turnout -

2004-10-09
Afghan Presidency
Votes 8,128,940
Registered 9,716,413
Turnout 83.66

Election For	Date	Votes	Registered Voters	Turnout
Afghan Presidency	2019-09-28	-	-	-
Afghan House of People	2018-10-20	-	8,918,107	-
Afghan House of People	2016-10-15	-	-	-
Afghan Presidency	2014-06-14	8,109,493	20,845,988	38.9
Afghan Presidency	2014-04-05	7,018,049	20,845,988	33.67
Afghan House of People	2010-09-18	4,216,594	10,300,000	40.94
Afghan Presidency	2009-08-20	5,918,741	12,430,644	47.61
Afghan House of Elders	2005-09-18	-	12,500,000	-
Afghan Presidency	2004-10-09	8,128,940	9,716,413	83.66

Voter Turnout

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