EC gives until October 11 to resubmit forms with fingerprints

Elections Commission has asked political parties to resubmit their party membership forms with fingerprints by October 11.

Member of EC, Ahmed Akram spoke to “Sun” on Thursday and said that the Commission made the announcement to enforce the recent amendment to the law on political parties.

The amendment makes it compulsory for political parties to re-submit their old membership forms – which did not contain fingerprints – to EC.

EC had asked all political parties to re-submit their old membership forms in accordance with the new party membership form standards – which includes fingerprints – even before the amendment was made.

The decision was contested by political parties Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and Dhivehi Republican Party (DRP), who accused the EC decision ‘unconstitutional’, and took the issue to court.

MDP, Adhaalath Party and Jumhoory Party – which came into existence before the birth of Political Parties Act need to re-submit their old membership forms with fingerprints.