VOTER REGISTRATION SECURITY PLAN EMERGES

UNCLAS KABUL 001813 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, S/CRS STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG NSC FOR JWOOD OSD FOR SHIVERS CG CJTF-82, POLAD, JICCENT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM PREL MARR AF SUBJECT: VOTER REGISTRATION SECURITY PLAN EMERGES REF: KABUL 1701 ¶1. (SBU) The Independent Electoral Commission's security advisor, a seconded Canadian military officer, presented his voter registration security plan (emailed to SCA/A) to the elections security working group on July 17. It includes a threat assessment, spells out the roles of the Ministry of Interior (MOI),Ministry of Defense (MOD),National Directorate for Security (NDS),and ISAF, and addresses inter-agency coordination and communications. The plan recommends a "voter registration security center" be located at the National Police Coordination Center. ¶2. (SBU) Under the plan, the Ministry of Interior is the lead agency for voter registration security. IROA agencies and ISAF representatives agree MOD will back up MOI, NDS will provide INTELLIGENCE support, and ISAF will offer security and logistics support "in extremis." MOI representatives have repeatedly said the ANSF will re-deploy forces from other areas to support registration as needed. The MOI will present its elaboration of the voter registration security plan to the Security Operations Group (SOG) on July 19, and stage a "command post exercise" (without troop movements) in September. The MOD will brief the SOG August 2 on the Afghan National Army's supporting role. ¶3. (SBU) Relations between the MOI and MOD on elections security and other issues are not always cordial. MOD representatives sometimes bristle at perceived MOI high-handedness in ordering the disposition of MOD assets. The MOD's August 2 SOG presentation will give us an indication of the two ministries' willingness to cooperate on securing the autumn voter registration. WOOD