EC setup 5 offices in Male’ to provide info to voters

Arrangements are in place to facilitate checking of eligible voters’ registry in five locations in Male’, Elections Commissions (EC) has revealed.

Elections Commission on Tuesday revealed that members of the public can easily obtain information on the eligible voters registry, his or her constituency and location of ballot boxes from offices set up in different locations in Male’ in addition to the main election headquarters established at Nasandhura Palace Building.

In addition to the main election headquarters, other centers are established at Qazee Building, Huravee Building and Maldives Customs Services Building. These center will be open from morning 0900 hours to 1430 hours every except Fridays. At the centers information regarding eligible voters list, checking of the list can be obtained. Further any complaints regarding registrations can also be submitted, EC said.

In addition to these centers, EC centers are also established at Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) and Maldives Water and Sanitation Company (MWSC) where same services can also be received.

For the forthcoming parliamentary elections, voters are registered at islands where they voted in during the 2008 presidential elections or at their native islands, EC said. The commission also highlighted that even though a voter had cast his or her vote, in the 2008 presidential elections, at a voting station established abroad or at an industrial station the respective voter would be registered in his or her native islands. The commission further said if these voters need to cast vote in island other his native island, the voter would be required to register themselves as required by the commission.

Election Commission has revealed that 472 candidates submitted credentials to contest 77 seats in the first parliament to be elected under new constitution. Out of 472 candidates, 465 candidates were confirmed as eligible and 7 candidates were disqualified for a number of different reasons including incorrect completion of the application forms and discrepancies in the list of 50 signatories from the constituency required by all candidates. Further the 465 eligible candidates include 211 candidates from 11 political parties and 254 independent candidates, EC has revealed.

11 out of 13 registered political parties will be contesting in the election. The parties which are contesting include Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Dhivehi Qaumee Party, People’s Alliance (PA), National Alliance, Jumhoory Party (JP), Islamic Democratic Party (IDP), Adhaalath Party, Social Liberal Party (SLP), Maldivian National Congress and Poverty Alleviation Party. The 2 parties which are not contesting are People’s Party and Maldives Social Democratic Party (MSDP).

The draw to determine order of candidates on the ballot paper would be held on 1 and 2 April and candidates’ names will be officially announced on 5 April, according to EC.

Parliamentary elections have been slated for 9 May, EC President Mohamed Ibrahim has revealed. Some 214,405 people are eligible to vote in oncoming parliamentary elections.

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