ECM to Utilise 593 Ballot Boxes in Parliamentary Polls
Photo: MV+
The Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM) has announced plans to deploy 593 ballot boxes for the upcoming parliamentary elections, as disclosed by the Commission’s Vice Chairman, Ismail Habeeb.
In a session of the national advisory committee yesterday, the ECM unveiled details regarding the latest arrangements for the elections.
According to the ECM, if a minimum of 150 voters register to cast their ballots from abroad, ballot boxes will be stationed overseas. On Tuesday, it was confirmed that Sri Lanka and Malaysia will host these boxes.
Domestically, the distribution of ballot boxes across the Maldives will be as follows:
Resorts: 27
Prisons: 5
Male’: 181
Hulhumale’: 50
Vilimale’: 9
Various cities and atolls: 319
Habeeb noted that the complaints committee has already received four grievances, two of which pertain to candidacy issues.
Concurrently, allegations of corruption linked to the electoral process will fall under the purview of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), while broadcasting-related concerns will be addressed by the Maldives Broadcasting Commission.
The parliamentary elections are slated for March 17, coinciding with the holy month of Ramadan. Although the Parliament has recently passed legislation prohibiting elections during Ramadan, final ratification by Muizzu is pending.