Voting for democratic parties among resort workers are ‘traditionally’ as high as 70 percent and the Elections Commission is ‘deliberately disenfranchising’ them from voting, says former president Mohamed Nasheed.
Nasheed said this in a post on Tuesday, criticizing the commission’s decision to place ballot boxes for September’s elections at just seven outlets in the country.
Turn out among resort workers is traditionally high, with over 70% voting for democratic parties. @ElectionsMv deliberately disenfranchises resort workers by refusing to have a ballot box on each resort. Credible, inclusive elections requires changing the composition of the EC.
— Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) July 17, 2018
The Tourism Employees Association of Maldives also expressed concern about the matter, with their sectary-general stating that leaving work to go vote in another island and resort is going to be ‘impossible’ for most workers in a season as ‘hectic’ as September.