EC to delay date to open bid submissions for candidacy in upcoming ballots

The Elections Commission has revealed that the opportunity to submit bids for candidacy may be delayed.

President of the commission, Ahmed Shareef speaking at the press conference held to reveal details of preparations for the upcoming Presidential Election said that there is a likelihood that the date to open bid submission opportunity may be delayed although the initial date was set at 15 July, adding that although it gets delayed, it will not be delayed for over a week.

The Elections Commissioner said that the ballots will proceed on the 23rd of September as scheduled and that a second round, if required, will be scheduled for the 10th of October.

While the constitution states that the term of an elected leader expires within five years, Shareef said that although the usual date on which the elected leader is sworn in on is 11th November of the year, incumbent President Abdulla Yameen had been sworn in on the 17th of November. Section 110 of the Maldives constitution also states that elections for the office of President shall be held within 120 -130 days prior to the expiry of the existing presidential term. Following the surfacing of queries, Shareef said that the EC had submitted the query at the Supreme Court for their proposition, adding that as soon as they receive the SC’s proposition, they will share it with the media.

In the previous Presidential Election, the Supreme Court had annulled the first round’s votes following an appeal made by Jumhooree Party (JP).

Back then, the Supreme Court had ordered to hold a second round following the publishing of guidelines to be followed by the Elections Commission under the proposition by the Attorney General.