Presidential candidates sign final list of eligible voters

Candidates competing in the fast-approaching presidential election have signed the final list of eligible voters.

This was revealed by Vice President of the Elections Commission Ismail Habeeb.

Habeeb revealed that the presidential candidates had completed their signing process by 10pm Sunday, adding that all candidates except for Umar Naseer, had signed the list.

The EC vice president went on to reveal that all the candidates other that the candidates from Maldives National Party (MNP) and The Democrats, had signed and confirmed the authenticity of the list by then.

According to Habeeb, with the observations of the country's monitors, observers as well as international observers and monitors, this year’s presidential election will be the most efficient with the maximum number of people to observe and monitor the process.

The Elections Commission earlier disclosed that they received a total of 9,887 applications from the Maldives including with 4,545 monitors, 3,607 observers, 1,735 delegates on behalf of candidates, to observe the presidential election.

The process of candidates signing the voters’ list came as per the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court in 2013, after the occurrences of that year’s election. Since then, the election process is to be conducted as per the Supreme Court ordered guidelines.

The final list of eligible voters for the September polls was publicized very recently. The commission revealed that a total of 282,395 individuals are eligible to vote in the September polls.

A total of 574 polling stations will be placed for the September polls including 176 in the capital Greater Malé Region, 384 in cities and atolls outside of the capital, six in industrial establishments and prison complexes as well as eight abroad. Vote boxes will be stationed across five countries abroad including Sri Lanka, Malaysia, India, the United Kingdom and Abu Dhabi.

Two polling stations will be present in Sri Lanka, three in Malaysia and one each in India, Abu Dhabi and the UK.

This year’s presidential election is slated for September 9 and eight candidates are competing including five from major political parties and three independent candidates.

Running for presidency this year are the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s candidate, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih aspiring to be re-elected for a second term, candidate of the People’s National Congress (PNC) Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, Ilyas Labeeb from The Democrats, Jumhooree Party’s Gasim Ibrahim and Mohamed Nazim running through Maldives National Party (MNP).

The independent candidates vying for presidency are Ahmed Faris Maumoon, Umar Naseer and Hassan Zameel.