Elections Commission (EC) has disclosed that 2023 Presidential Election is expected to see around 150 foreign observers.

This was stated by the Vice President of the commission, Ismail Habeeb.

Habeeb said that the commission had invited foreign monitors and observers to ensure that the presidential election was conducted in accordance with the law.

The commission in October, sent official invitations to 15 countries to observe the Presidential Election slated for September. A total of 32 observers are expected to be seen from these countries.

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

Habeeb stated that the commission has so far accredited more than 100 foreign observers and 20 foreign monitors.

EC opened registration for those who wish to observe the voting and vote counting of the upcoming election on 19 July, 2023. The deadline is set at 03:00 pm on 13 August, 2023.

Elections Commission states that those that wish to apply as observers should be Maldivians who are above the age of 18. They should not be serving a sentence for a criminal offence.

If a person is applying to be an observer from a civil society organization other than political parties, they shall not be a registered member of a political party.

Additionally, they must not be a person entrusted by the commission to perform any election-related work and must have read the Code of Conduct of the Elections Commission and agreed to abide by it.

Furthermore, they must not have taken any action in violation of the Code of Conduct within the past five years or have been convicted of an electoral offense.

The Election Commission's declaration must be signed by everyone serving as an observer. If the signature on the application form is different from the signature on the National Identity Card, the application will be cancelled.

Passes may be provided to political parties and civil societies to observe the voting and vote counting, up to 10% of the total number of ballot boxes set up for the election.

Those who proposes to act as an observer or monitor or candidate appointed representative on polling day shall meet the requirements for observers, monitors and candidate appointed representatives. As such, if they have been convicted of an electoral offense within the past five years, or if they are found guilty of violating the constitution, the Elections Commission reserves the right to refuse permission for them to act as an observer, or monitor, or as a representative of a candidate.

Applications for observers will be accepted via email. Application forms will be accepted at the reception of the Election Center (Dharubaaruge) from 19 July to 13 August from 09:00 am to 03:00 pm on working days and public holidays. On Fridays forms will be accepted from 03:00 pm to 05:00 pm.

Application forms for nomination as observers should be mailed to the commission’s email address [email protected].