EC invites 15 countries to observe the 2023 Presidential Election

The Elections Commission (EC) has officially invited 15 countries to observe the 2023 Presidential Election.

Vice President of EC, Ismail Habeeb on Saturday, disclosed that the commission had last week sent official invitations to 15 countries to observe the Presidential Election slated for September.

The countries are; Georgia, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea, South Africa, Kirgizstan, Honduras, Sri Lanka, Bosnia, Australia, Jordan, Canada, Japan and Nepal.

The Elections Commission has decided to set up polling stations in eight countries, if 150 people register to vote in the election. As such, the commission will be setting up polling stations in nine cities of eight countries, Trivandrum, New Delhi, Colombo, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, London, Bangkok, Abu Dhabi and Tokyo if 150 or more people register to vote in these cities.

Elections Commission has disclosed that the 2023 Presidential Election will be held on 09 September.

As such, if the election were to go to a second round, the second round will be held on 30 September.

The results of both the rounds will be announced within seven days of the election.

Application for candidacy will be opened on 23 July. The last date for the application is 03 August.

Application for observers and monitors are to be opened from 25 July to 13 August.

Candidate names and numbers will be announced on 09 August 2023.

Additionally, candidates will be given time to campaign from 10 August to 08 September 2023.

The Presidential Election of 2023, is expected to see an eligible voting population of 280,000. The last Presidential Election of 2018 saw 265,135 eligible voters.

The commission expects to see around 600 vote boxes for this election. As such; 145 vote boxes are to be kept in Male', 47 vote boxes in Hulhumale', 10 vote boxes in Villimale' and 327 vote boxes are to be kept in cities and atolls.

Furthermore, 50 vote boxes are to be kept in resorts, four boxes in jails, five boxes in industrial islands and 12 boxes in other countries.

Elections Commission highlights that changes may come to the number of boxes, depending on the number of people, who reregister during the reregistration period.

The highest number of vote boxes the commission has decided on, is 800.

The vote papers used will be of high quality and that the commission will make sure that the vote papers cannot be duplicated.

The Election Commission started discussions with the relevant authorities in 2022, to ensure a smooth election. The commission has also started awareness programs for the public, regarding the presidential election.