Transport of ballot papers delayed

The transport of voters’ lists and ballot papers to overseas and atoll polling stations have been delayed over a lag in signing of voters’ lists by presidential candidates.

The Elections Commission had initially planned to ship-off ballot papers and voters’ lists to atolls; Haa Alif, Haa Dhaalu, Shaviyani, Lhaviyani, Meemu, Thaa, Laamu, Gaafu Alif, Gaafu Dhaalu and Addu city at 6:00 a.m. this morning. The commission was also planning to send the materials to atolls Noonu, Raa and Baa at 9:00 a.m., to Alif Alif and Alif Dhaalu at 10:30 a.m. and to Dhaalu atoll at 1:30 p.m. this afternoon.

By noon today, all the materials intended to be shipped off in the morning, except the ballot papers for the station in London, UK, were still in Male'.

A police media official said the police have been on stand-by since 12:00 a.m. today to transport ballot papers and provide additional security surrounding polling, under directives from the Elections Commission.

The commission was also planning to transport ballot papers and voters’ lists to Colombo, Sri Lanka at noon today, and to Trivandrum and New Delhi, India, sometime after midnight tonight. The papers and lists will also fly to Malaysia and Singapore tonight.

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has finished signing the voters’ lists for all constituencies, while the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and Jumhoory Party (JP) have a few pending lists.