Over 6,000 applications submitted to fill posts of election officials: Commission

The Elections Commission of Maldives has revealed that over 6,000 individuals have submitted their applications to become officials at polling stations for the upcoming Presidential Elections, adding that they will begin interviewing applicants in the coming week.

Commission member and spokesperson Ahmed Akram said that those who wish to apply to become officials working at polling stations were opened the opportunity to submit their applications between 29th June and 25th July. As such, over 6,000 forms had been submitted to the Elections Commission and are being entered to the commission’s system.

EC highlighted that they will be selecting over 4,500 officials to be active in polling stations for the Election slated for the 23rd of September. They added that they will be selected after conducting interviews which will begin in the commencing week.

Qualifications for officials include being over 18 years of age, not being registered in any political party, not being actively involved in campaign activities of any candidates contesting in the September election, having the knowledge and experience to work around ballot boxes as well as not being a criminal convicted for a criminal offense.

While a special training program will be conducted to train officials, it is set to begin in September.

An official who is selected as a polling station in-charge will be paid a wage of MVR 1,500 on the day of voting alone and the in-charge’s helpers will earn MVR 1,200 as daily wages.

While the country comprises of 262,141 eligible voters for the Presidential Election slated for September, re-registration opportunities have been opened up until 11th of August.