With election day just three days away, Maldives Elections Commission has dismissed allegations that it is ‘creating opportunities for vote rigging and massive voter fraud’.

In a statement issued on Thursday, it ‘strongly’ denied the allegations and called to ‘refrain from disseminating such false information and unsubstantiated allegations that could create concern with the general public, and create concern amongst international partners and stakeholders, on the integrity of the Commission’.

Furthermore, the Commission also denied changes to the vote counting procedures, saying it ‘will follow all standard vote counting procedures used in previous elections to ensure a transparent process and to combat fraudulent practises’.

The clarification comes after multiple allegations that the Commission plans to introduce tablet computers to the process, and that vote results will be announced at individual polling stations after sending to the Elections headquarters.

According to the Joint Opposition, handbooks given to elections officials details the use of tablets in the counting process. However, at a meeting on Wednesday Commission officials assured them that it will be carried out as per usual, noting that they had reverted on the decision to use tablets.

While the Commission guaranteed to issue a press release on the matter, the statement released- only in English- detailed the vote counting procedures adding that it will be carried out as stated in the Elections General Act.

As such, ballot boxes ‘should be sealed, by sealing the opening on the lid of the ballot box through which ballots were deposited, and covering the area with plastic pull tight seal’ and ‘materials used for voting, the unused ballots, counterfoils should all be packaged in security envelope especially designated for that purpose and sealed’. The sealing ‘should be carried out in the presence of candidates or observers.’

The boxes will then be opened by those in charge of individual polling stations ‘on the time appointed for counting of votes.’

“This procedure will be carried out in the presence of the candidates, official election agents of the candidates, representatives of the candidates, elections observers and elections monitors approved by the Commission, if present,” reads the statement.

Further noting that the ballot papers will be sorted into categories of invalid votes and respective candidates’ names, the Commission emphasized that ‘each ballot paper will then be shown to those present’ and ‘counted out loud and bundled together in ballot papers of 50’.

While the reasons for a ballot paper being deemed is to be explained, it added that those present ‘have the right to ask questions throughout the process’ and in the event that there is a dispute regarding the validity ‘those present have the right to officially submit a complaint’.

The results will be announced and publicly displayed after the sheets are signed by at least two elections officials that participated in the counting process.

“Once the results are announced, only will the result be communicated to Elections Commission officially and this will be done via electronic tablets provided at polling stations”, said the Commission.

Further noting that this is the procedure practiced in previous elections including the 2013 presidential elections, Elections urged all parties ‘to support the Commission in its commitment to hold impartial, free, fair and transparent elections’.