MDP Alleges Ballot Distribution Irregularities, Claims Vote Secrecy at Risk

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has alleged irregularities in ballot distribution during today’s voting, claiming that not all voters are being issued the required three ballot papers and warning that the secrecy of the vote is being compromised.

In a statement issued on social media, the MDP said the failure to provide three separate ballots to each voter undermines the integrity of the electoral process. The party further alleged that the situation was being orchestrated by the ECM at the behest of the government, with the intention of intimidating civil servants and obstructing their right to vote.

“This is an act carried out to compromise the secrecy of the vote,” the statement read. The party also called on the ECM to halt the alleged practice.

މިއަދު ނަގާ 3 ވޯޓުގެ ކަރުދާސް ކޮންމެ މީހަކަށް ދޫނުކުރުމަކީ މި ޕާޓީން ކަންބޮޑުވާ ކަމެއް.
މިއީ، ވޯޓުގެ ސިއްރުކަން ގެއްލުވައިލުމަށް ކުރާ ކަމެއް.
މި ކަމަކީ، ސަރުކާރު މުވައްޒަފުންނަށް ބިރު ދައްކައި، އެ މީހުންގެ ވޯޓުލުމުގެ ހައްޤަށް ހުރަސްއެޅުމަށް ސަރުކާރުން ބޭނުންވެގެން @ElectionsMv…— MDP Secretariat (@MDPSecretariat) April 4, 2026

In a video shared yesterday, the Elections Commission stated that today’s voting—covering the Local Council Election, the Women’s Development Committee (WDC) Election, and a public referendum—requires each voter to be issued three separate ballot papers.

The Commission explained that each ballot must be deposited into its designated box, with colour-coded labels used to distinguish between them. The referendum ballot box carries a white label, the council election box a blue label, and the WDC election box a green label.

It also noted that the referendum ballot paper can be identified by a border on the reverse side printed with the words “Public Referendum.”