Ex-AG to file two cases against EC at the Supreme Court

Former Attorney General Husnu al-Suood has decided to file two cases against the Elections Commission (EC) at the Supreme Court.

The two cases are, regarding EC’s decision to place polling stations at only seven out of the 130 resorts in the country and regarding the decision making it compulsory for the elderly and disabled to seek assistance from a Commission officer if they wish to vote.

Noting that ‘a voter should be free to choose to bring his own companion or be assisted by a presiding officer at the polling station’, the prominent lawyer said that he will be seeking to overturn EC’s decision at the court.

Speaking regarding the decision to place ballot boxes at only seven resorts, Suood noted that resort employees could face difficulties in traveling to the nearest polling stations and that this could also disrupt operations at resorts. He highlighted that ballot boxes were placed in 40 resorts during the 2013 presidential elections.

Tourism Employees Association of Maldives (TEAM) said that over 10,000 employees will be deprived of their right to vote due to the Commission’s decision.

While the first round of presidential election is slated for September 23, a Sunday, TEAM emphasized that Sundays are the busiest for local workers as most foreign workers will be off that day.

TEAM added that resorts will be ‘at high peak’ at the end of September.

Elections Commission defended its decision to place ballot boxes in seven resorts saying that this was due to the difficulties faced at some resorts during the previous election. EC maintains that resort workers will not face any difficulties in casting their ballots, despite the reduction of the ballot boxes in resorts.