Election will be held on Saturday, says EC

President of Elections Commission (EC) Fuad Thaufeeg has said that the first round of the presidential election will be held on Saturday, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court.

Speaking at a press conference, Fuad said that efforts are under way to fulfil the guideline requirements, and that the second round of the presidential election, which will depend on the result of the first round, will be held on 2 November.

Meanwhile, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) said earlier today that they need 72 hours to check and sign the voters’ registry.

Presidential candidate of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Mohamed Nasheed said that it should not take more than 2 hours to sign the list, and presidential candidate of Jumhooree Party (JP) Gasim Ibrahim said that the party will sign the list as soon as possible.

Fuad said that as per the guideline issued by the Supreme Court, names of deceased persons and minors (below 18) have been removed from the list provided by the Department of National Registration (DNR).

He said that efforts will begin at 10:00 p.m. tonight, for the presidential candidates and officials of DNR to sign and put their fingerprints on the voters’ list.

He said that it has been decided to place seven ballot boxes for people on the Male’ Dhaftharu list.

He also said that ballot papers have been printed again, and that the new papers contain security features.

Fuad said that everything mentioned on the guideline that should be completed by now, has been completed; and that everything will be completed over the next two days.

“Right now, we are looking into complaints. From the beginning, in accordance with the verdict, we have been communicating with NCIT and taking all possible action,” he said.

He said that he is not informed of the commission’s server being under attack, and that NCIT is looking into the matter.