Meedhoo Election Dispute: High Court Ruling Results in Tie Between MDA and PNC Candidates

The High Court has delivered its verdict regarding the dispute over the vote count between the PNC and MDA candidates who contested for the presidency of the Dhaal Meedhoo Island Council.

The Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) candidate has secured the presidency of the Dhuvaafaru Meedhoo Council following a recount of the Meedhoo No. 2 ballot box. The recount, prompted by disputes over the initial vote tallies for the People’s National Congress (PNC) and MDA candidates, resulted in one vote previously credited to the PNC candidate being declared invalid, confirming the MDA candidate's victory.

Following an investigation into the issues raised at the time, the official results for the Meedhoo constituency have been released. The final tally shows PNC candidate Suha Ibrahim receiving 391 votes, while MDA candidate Mohamed Shahid secured 392 votes. Consequently, the MDA candidate has been declared the winner of the election.

Following the invalidation of one of Suha's votes, her total count has decreased to 391. The vote was declared invalid upon recount because the ballot paper contained two checkmarks.

However, Suha's legal counsel argued that the ballot must be counted in her favor. The lawyer contended that since the law stipulates marking the space next to the chosen candidate's name, and the mark on this specific ballot was placed next to her name, it should be deemed valid. Furthermore, her legal team asserted that the decision to invalidate the vote was made in a manner that obstructs fundamental electoral rights.

Consequently, he has requested the court to either annul the election results and order a fresh vote, or to declare the votes contained within the invalidated 15th and 17th bundles as valid.

However, the MDA candidate's legal representative argued that the law explicitly refers to a "mark," implying a single mark. The lawyer further contended that validating such a ballot would undermine the integrity of the electoral system.

The Elections Commission's legal counsel stated that although it was claimed the two marks on the ballot paper were made in error, there is no way to verify that this was indeed an unintentional mistake. The counsel further clarified that even if the marks were accidental, the ballot would still be deemed invalid under such circumstances. Furthermore, the legal representative noted that placing additional marks or symbols on a ballot paper undermines the principle of a secret ballot.

The case is being presided over by a High Court bench consisting of Judge Ismail Shafeeu, Chief Judge Abdulla Jameel Moosa, and Judge Hassan Shafeeu.

The judges ruled in favor of Suha, declaring the 17th ballot box of Baathila Bandali as valid. This decision brings her vote count to a tie with the MDA candidate. Consequently, the court has ordered the official election results to be amended and re-announced.

The Elections Commission (EC) has addressed the matter in interviews with several local media outlets. The Commission noted that, following the High Court's ruling, the two candidates are now tied in the vote count.

Notably, the Elections Commission's Complaints Bureau had previously invalidated a vote cast for the PNC candidate after the MDA filed a complaint alleging that an ineligible individual had voted in the ballot box stationed at L. Fonadhoo.