Dear Reader,

Democracy is about much more than just elections. It includes all the elements of constitutional life from rule of law to minority rights to good governance but always starting with elections. The 2009 Presidential elections have been described by Richard Holbrooke as “a difficult thing to hold under any circumstances and holding it in the middle of a war is extraordinary. No election can be perfect and this election is facing many complex challenges.” Hopefully the political frame work for the 2010 parliamentary elections will turn out to be a better one. After a long period of political chaos and violence the Afghan people are able for the second time since 2001 to use their rights as citizen to cast their votes for candidates of their choice. The election has to be understood as a unique chance to give the Afghan people a strong voice to safeguard the interest of the nation and its people. It is not only important to cast the vote but it seems to be needed that new parties and new faces enter the political arena. Bearing in mind that the majority of the Afghan population is below 30 years old there should be a mutual understanding that the ruling elite did not inherit Afghanistan from their ancestors rather had borrowed it from their children. Hence this means that the next generation should be given the chance to get more involved politically in the second parliamentary elections inshallah.

The intention of this handbook aims to increase the general knowledge of the electoral process. One can learn about the basic rights, roles and responsibilities of citizenship within a representative democracy. It provides information particular relevant not only for broad public and potential and actual candidates, but also for journalists and also government officials.

The main target audience are individuals who are thinking about becoming a candidate. We would like to support the process in which interested persons are laying out some of the main issues and questions successful candidates must think through before they summit their nomination papers and present themselves officially. Secondly, the manual is intended to be reference how to guide on developing a campaign strategy. Therefore, the handbook consists out of three units. Part I provides basic political information for everyone. Part II helps those who think about running to assess their chances, and provides first information about assembling a team and developing a strategy, and Part III is a hands-on aid to actually running a campaign. The Annex provides important legal information as well as a list of political parties.