ECM Extends Voting Hours for Second Round in Presidential Election

MV+ News Desk | September 12, 2023
Photo: ECM

The Election Commission of Maldives (ECM) has announced that on the 30th of this month, the voting period will be extended by an additional hour, commencing from 8:00 am and concluding at 5:00 pm.

Vice Chairman of ECM, Ismail Habeeb, elaborated on the decision, emphasising that this extension is aimed at affording more citizens the opportunity to participate in the democratic process. The first round of voting witnessed a notably low turnout, prompting the Commission to take this step.

According to ECM statistics, a total of 225,486 individuals exercised their right to vote in the initial round of polling, constituting 79.8 percent of the 282,395 eligible voters. This turnout represents the lowest participation rate in a presidential election in the country’s history.

It is worth noting that the ECM has traditionally extended voting hours during previous elections. However, in the first round, queues were closed at 4 pm on Saturday, leading to disturbances at certain polling stations.

During today’s press conference, Vice Chairman Habib underscored the commission’s commitment to adhering strictly to the specified voting hours for the second round.

The registration period for the second round is scheduled to take place from September 15th to September 17th.

The preliminary results disclosed by the ECM indicate that none of the candidates managed to secure the requisite 50 percent of the vote, necessitating a second-round face-off. 

This upcoming round will feature Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of the People’s National Congress (PNC) and the incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, and is set to occur on September 30.

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