The Elections Commission of the Maldives (EC) has revealed that the second round of voting in this year’s presidential election will take place from 8am to 5pm, on September 30.

EC announced this during a press conference held on Tuesday.

Elections Commissioner Fuad Thaufeeq revealed that the process of counting votes will begin 30 minutes after the queues are closed and ballot boxes are closed.

Speaking on the extended time period for voting, Vice President of EC Ismail Habeeb stated that the decision was reached following extensive discussions with foreign observers, who pointed out what requires to be amended.

The record low voter turnout also contributed to the decision to extend the time to 5pm, after discussions with the advisory committee as well.

Habeeb noted that this will allow more individuals to turn out and cast their ballots that day.

However, he added that the time period will not be extended again.

Maldives observed a record low voter turnout in Saturday’s first round of presidential polls.

As such, only 219,843 voters turned out to cast their votes in the first round of this year’s presidential election.

A total of 282,395 were eligible to vote this time round, however, only 80 percent of the eligible voters exercised their right to vote.

Voting in the first round was from 8am to 4pm.

Noting that it was busier and more crowded at polling stations between 3:30pm to 4pm, the commission has appealed on all citizens to queue up sooner, rather than later.

According to provisional results announced by the commission, Malé City Mayor and candidate of the opposition coalition member People’s National Congress (PNC), Dr. Mohamed Muizzu leads the presidential race with 101,635 votes in his favor, with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih who is aspiring to be re-elected for a second term through the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), came second with 86,161 votes.

Coming in third is Ilyas Labeeb from MDP’s estranged leader Mohamed Nasheed’s ‘The Democrats’ with 15,839 votes.

Independent candidate Umar Naseer secured 6,343 votes, with Jumhooree Party’s candidate business tycoon Gasim Ibrahim having won 5,460 votes.

Candidate of the Maldives National Party (MNP) Mohamed Nazim trails behind with 1,907 votes and Faris Maumoon having secured 2,979 votes.

Independent candidate Hassan Zameel trails far behind with just 327 votes in his favor.