11 of 500 fingerprints did not match, says DNR

Department of National Registration (DNR) has said they have verified fingerprints on 500 re-registration forms, out of which 11 forms were rejected because the fingerprints did not match.

Speaking to Sun, DNR’s Director Fareed Yusuf said the department, with the assistance of the Maldives Police Service, have checked 500 re-registration forms as provided and requested by the Elections Commission.

Voters who wish to vote from location other than their permanent residences are required to re-register with the Elections Commission.

“We have so far received 500 forms from the Elections Commission, to verify fingerprints. We have verified fingerprints on all forms through the police and handed them over to the Elections Commission. From these forms, 11 were rejected,” Fareed said.

As the forms have fingerprints of the applicant and two witnesses, Fareed said DNR does not know the exact criteria used by the police to cross-check the details.

He said reports of the fingerprint verifications process were provided by the police, which have been handed over to the Elections Commission.

An Election Commission official confirmed that all forms sent to DNR for verification have now been returned. The commission is now trying to contact the applicants of the 11 rejected forms to further clarify if the forms were submitted with consent of the applicant, the official said.