The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has announced its decision to amend specific guidelines set forth as a safeguard against the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, pertaining to the upcoming Local Council and Women’s Development Committee Elections.

The Elections Commission is required to launch preparations for the local elections within seven days after the ratification of the first amendment to the Local Council Elections Special Provision Act, comes into effect. The legislation was ratified by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in January.

According to the legislation, HPA is required to establish special guidelines to safeguard against the Covid-19 pandemic, to be followed throughout the polls.

Earlier, Elections Commission raised concerns over difficulties posed by the guidelines HPA initially put forth, stressing that it increases expenditure for the elections.

As such, the commission’s President Ahmed Shareef told the Parliamentary Committee on Independent Institutions that the guidelines are presently difficulties in the EC’s preparations for the elections. He also noted that the commission is not opposing the guidelines and realizes they are set forth as a safeguard against the pandemic.

In addition to increased expenses, Shareef stressed that they fear they will not be able to grant the 28-day-period entitled as a campaigning period for candidates, due to the guidelines.

He went on to note that the current guidelines in place paves way for candidates to file cases regarding the election at court, which may lead to a second round of polls.

While the guidelines do not specify permission for elections officials to travel to islands under monitoring, Shareef noted that officials who travel for training are required to go into a 10-day quarantine period should they fail to complete their training within five days. He highlighted that a five-day period is insufficient for training programmes.

The elections commissioner went on to highlight that a limited number of officials and observers are allowed near the ballot boxes and that the public health authority has no facilitated means through which individuals who test positive for Covid-19 may vote on the day of the polls.

Acknowledging the commission’s concerns, the Director General of Public Health, Maimoona Aboobakuru noted that the guidelines and safety regulations are set in place accordingly to ensure public safety.

After the discussions, the committee decided to mandate HPA to bring amendments to the guidelines and submit them by March 11.

Speaking during a committee meeting last week, the commission revealed that they require MVR 42.8 million in additional funds to host the polls in accordance with the HPA guidelines. Acknowledging and reviewing the budget allocated for the polls, the committee had passed to provide MVR 29 million as additional funds.

EC had passed a MVR 51.1 million budget for the Local Council and Women’s Development Committee Elections last year.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the elections were indefinitely delayed after being initially scheduled for April 4, 2020.

Since the ratification of the amendment bill, EC has announced the decision to hold the elections during April 2021.