Discussions have been held to telecast all the meetings of the National Advisory Committee formed to consult matters of the Local Council Elections 2020, on live television.

The first meeting of the committee was held on Tuesday at the Elections Commission (EC) office.

Elections Commissioner Ahmed Shareef revealed the ECM’s decision to telecast the meetings on live television in order to ensure transparency. The commission is to open the opportunity for live telecasting, to local broadcasters.

During the first meeting, discussions revolved around the committee’s agenda. As such, a meeting will be scheduled once every fortnight and members also discussed on regulations on holding emergency meetings.

Shareef further said that the council elections for the upcoming year, is “different in every single way”.

As such, different ballot papers are required to be allocated for presidency candidates, member candidates as well as the female candidates. Further, a different ballot paper will be allocated for those who contest for atoll council presidency and vice presidency as well as those who contest for the women’s committee who will work for the development of islands.

The EC will be conducting familiarization programs to clear out the entire procedure for officials participating and the media, to ensure the process runs smoothly and hassle-free.

The National Advisory Committee is formed prior to every election and comprises of; registered political parties, Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM), the Civil Service Commission, Maldives Police Service (MPS), Department of National Registration, Maldives Media Council (MMC), Maldives Broadcasting Commission (Broadcom), Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Prosecutor General’s office, Attorney General’s office, a local NGO selected by the ECM and the Local Government Authority (LGA).

The committee also comprises of five members, a lawyer and Secretary General of the ECM and three civil associations, totaling 30 members.