Presidential Election Laws Require Revision, Says ECM

The Election Commission of Maldives (ECM) has issued a statement asserting the need for an update to the laws governing presidential elections in light of contemporary circumstances.

During a meeting last night to announce the final results of the second round of the presidential election, Vice Chairman of ECM, Ismail Habeeb, advocated for a review of these laws. He suggested that the ECM should initiate discussions with political parties and relevant institutions to address this issue.

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The laws governing presidential elections, established roughly 15 years ago, are in need of substantial revisions to align with the current era. Notably, certain provisions, originally part of the Supreme Court guidelines, have since been incorporated into other legislative frameworks. This situation may potentially burden voters with unwarranted inconveniences. Thus, Habeeb emphasised the urgency of amending these laws to better reflect the contemporary context.

The ECM has called upon all candidates to submit their campaign expenditure reports to the Commission within the next 60 days. Furthermore, the ECM has requested the prompt removal of campaign flags and banners from the streets within the next 10 days.

The official results of the second round of the presidential election held on September 30 were unveiled last night.