2023 presidential election: PNC's candidate Muizzu leads polls

Opposition PNC's candidate Dr. Mohamed Muizzu continues to lead the polls as voting continues. Remaining candidates follow behind him as below; 

MDP's candidate President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in 2nd 

The Democrats' candidate Ilyas Labeeb in 3rd 

Independent candidate Umar Naseer in 4th 

Jumhoory Party's candidate Qasim Ibrahim in 5th 

Independent candidate Faris Maumoon in 6th 

Maldives National Party's candidate Mohamed Nazim in 7th 

Independent candidate Hassan Zameel in 8th 

President Solih, Muizzu head to runoff after tight Maldives electionhttps://t.co/qpkJftNK6R

— sun.mv (@sunbrk) September 9, 2023

The preliminary results of 133 out of 574 ballot boxes place opposition PPM-PNC coalition’s candidate Dr. Mohamed Muizzu with a slim lead over President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

1. Umar Naseer (Independent): 2.34 percent (905 votes)

2. Hassan Zameel (Independent): 0.13 percent (51 votes)

3. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (MDP): 41.21 percent (15,954 votes)

4. Dr. Mohamed Muizzu (PPM-PNC): 44.77 percent (17,332 votes)

5. Qasim Ibrahim (JP): 2 percent (776 votes)

6. Ahmed Faris Maumoon (Independent): 1.07 percent (414 votes)

7. Ilyas Labeeb (The Democrats): 7.25 percent (2,806 votes)

8. Colonel (Retired) Mohamed Nazim (MNP): 1.23 percent (475 votes)

Counting is now in progress and continuing without incident. #BlueWave23

— Blue Wave 2023 (@OpsPoliceMv) September 9, 2023

The turnout in the election was around 75 percent – the lowest in a presidential election.

The preliminary results of 32 out of 574 ballot boxes place President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in a slim lead over opposition PPM-PNC coalition’s candidate Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

1. Umar Naseer (Independent): 2.56 percent (135 votes)

2. Hassan Zameel (Independent): 0.28 percent (15 votes)

3. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (MDP): 42.63 percent (2,247 votes)

4. Dr. Mohamed Muizzu (PPM-PNC): 42.42 percent (2,236 votes)

5. Qasim Ibrahim (JP): 1.73 percent (91 votes)

6. Ahmed Faris Maumoon (Independent): 0.57 percent (30 votes)

7. Ilyas Labeeb (The Democrats): 9.03 percent (476 votes)

8. Colonel (Retired) Mohamed Nazim (MNP): 0.78 percent (41 votes)

A person is detained from the polling station at Ameeniya School for creating a disturbance.

Poll workers begin counting ballots from some of the ballot boxes.

Queues remain long at ballot boxes for Fuvahmulah constituents and M. Atoll constituents at the polling station in Iskandhar School in Male’.

All six people detained in election-related incidents have been released from police custody.

All 6 persons arrested today have been released. #BlueWave23

— Blue Wave 2023 (@OpsPoliceMv) September 9, 2023

Several ballot boxes have now been sealed.

Poll workers close queues at polling stations.

Latest statistics show the voter turnout was 58 percent.

EC’s vice chairman Ismail Habeeb says the commission will not extend voting time.

ރިޔާސީ އިންތިހާބު 2023ގެ ވޯޓުލުން ހަވީރު 4:00 ގައި ނިމޭނެ. 4 ގެ ކުރިން ކިއޫގައި ތިބި މީހުންނަށް ވޯޓުލުމުގެ ފުރުސަތު ލިބޭނެ. 4 ގެ ފަހުން ކިޔޫ އަށް ނޭރޭނެ.
ވޯޓުލުމުގެ ވަގުތު އިލެކްޝަންސް ކޮމިޝަނުން އިތުރު ނުކުރާނެ.#visnun23 @ElectionsMv @psmnewsmv

— Ismail Habeeb (@IsmailHabeeb) September 9, 2023

Long queues at ballot boxes for Fuvahmulah constituents and M. Atoll constituents at the polling station in Iskandhar School in Male’.

Voter turnout rises to 58 percent, as of 02:00 pm.

2:00 އާ ހަމަޔަށް % 58 ވޯޓުލައިފި.#visnun23 @ElectionsMv

— Ismail Habeeb (@IsmailHabeeb) September 9, 2023

Police probe Thulhaadhoo voter for carrying spy penhttps://t.co/HAYvhJlmch

— sun.mv (@sunbrk) September 9, 2023

Six people were detained in election-related cases. Two remain in police custody.

Voter turnout as of 01:00 pm stands at 47.95 percent.

135,422 people have voted; including 69,261 females and 66,161 males.

ރިޔާސީ އިންތިޚާބު 2023 ގެ 13:00 އާ ހަމައަށް ވޯޓުލާފައިވާ މީހުންގެ ނިސްބަތް pic.twitter.com/Ha4RJTyxqB

— Elections Commission (@ElectionsMv) September 9, 2023

Independent presidential candidate Umar Naseer casts his ballot.

The former home minister cast his ballot at a polling station at the Islamic University of Maldives (IUM) in Male’.

He is the last of the eight candidates contesting the election to cast their ballot.

MDA’s leader Ahmed Siyam Mohamed casts his ballot.

Siyam, who represents the Dh. Meedhoo constituency at the Parliament, cast his ballot at the polling station in the Sun Siyam Olhuveli.

EC says it has received 14 complaints, including complaints regarding people taking photos of the ballot paper while voters at the booth.

EC's vice chairman Ismail Habeeb said the commission is considering a change to the layout of voting booths, if the election goes to a run-off.

EC says that a person who is alive was registered as deceased on the Department of National Registration (DNR)’s official records, and denying the person the right to vote.

EC’s vice chairperson Ismail Habeeb told reporters that the voter turnout is currently at 39 percent, prompting concerns of long last-minute queues.

Habeeb said the commission is identifying polling stations with long queues, and transferring poll workers from stations with shorter queues, in order to speed up the polling.

He said the commission is making arrangements to avoid long last-minute queues, which could delay poll closing time.

EC holds a press conference to provide updates.

A large number of police officers are deployed to maintain security near polling stations.

All campaign ending events concluded at 1800 hrs. Thank you all for your cooperation. #BlueWave23 pic.twitter.com/wMMNmX5qjs

— Blue Wave 2023 (@OpsPoliceMv) September 8, 2023

Vice President Faisal Naseem casts ballot. 

ނައިބު ރައީސް ފައިސަލް ނަސީމް ވޯޓްލެއްވުންhttps://t.co/9fWArhrfp6 pic.twitter.com/VJ5M8B3HRc

— sun.mv (@sunbrk) September 9, 2023

Row breaks out in Rasdhoo after two poll workers suspendedhttps://t.co/VIxllzp7QV

— sun.mv (@sunbrk) September 9, 2023

EC: No-name complainants queued at wrong ballot boxhttps://t.co/goqRr40o34

— sun.mv (@sunbrk) September 9, 2023

Former Maldivian president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom casts his ballot.

Maumoon, who ruled the Maldives for over 30 years, cast his ballot at a polling station in Ameeniya School.

His son, Ahmed Faris Maumoon, is running in the election as an independent presidential candidate.

ކުރީގެ ރައީސް މައުމޫން އަބްދުލްގައްޔޫމް ވޯޓު ލައްވައިފި.

30 އަހަރު ވަންދެން ވެރިކަން ކުރެއްވި ރައީސް މައުމޫން މި ފަހަރު ވޯޓު ލެއްވީ އަމީނިއްޔާ ސްކޫލުގައި ހުރި ފޮއްޓަށް.
ތަފްސީލް: https://t.co/NBTn15DI14 pic.twitter.com/AIFAQTuOlm

— sun.mv (@sunbrk) September 9, 2023

The opening processes went well, with all polling stations open by 9:00 am, and 85.8% of polling stations open within the first 10 minutes of the required opening time.#MVElection2023

Read our press statement on the opening of the polls here: https://t.co/d8YHU3LyKS pic.twitter.com/W3dVV7zy0Q

— Transparency MV (@TransparencyMV) September 9, 2023

Former Maldivian president Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik casts his ballot.

ރާއްޖޭގެ ކުރީގެ ރައީސް ޑރ. މުހައްމަދު ވަހީދު ހަސަންމަނިކު ރިޔާސީ އިންތިޚާބު 2023 ގެ ވޯޓު ލައްވައިފި. pic.twitter.com/oE9r6ntlSe

— JP Secretariat (@JPSecretariat) September 9, 2023

EU observers are visiting polling stations in Vilimale'.

The polling station at the Mohamed Qasim Pre-School is seeing far lower numbers than the rest of the polling stations in Hulhumale’.

Speaking to reporters outside the polling station, President Solih said he expects a turnout if 88-90 percent in this election.

He said that the election is going smoothly, and will be the most democratic election to be held in Maldivian history.

He also denied allegations MDP distributed money to voters.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih casts his ballot.

ރައީސް އިބްރާހީމް މުޙައްމަދު ޞާލިޙް ވޯޓުލެއްވުން. ރައީސް ވިދާޅުވީ، ރާއްޖެއިން މިހާތަނަށް ނުދެކޭ ފަދަ ޑިމޮކްރެޓިކް އިންތިޚާބަކަށް މި އިންތިޚާބު ވާނެ ކަމަށް

ލައިވް ބްލޮގް: https://t.co/pt7eVJJmnU pic.twitter.com/VvVGKEd9Nm

— sun.mv (@sunbrk) September 9, 2023

ކުރިއަށް އޮތް ފަސް އަހަރަށް ރައީސަކު އިންތިޚާބު ކުރާ އިންތިޚާބުގެ ވޯޓުލުން ފަށައިފި pic.twitter.com/MA6PURAT8c

— sun.mv (@sunbrk) September 9, 2023

EC’s statistics show 36,163 people have cast their votes by 10:00 am. This includes 22,403 males, and 13,760 females.

ހުރިހާ ބޭފުޅުން ވެސް ވޯޓު ލައި، ގައުމު ބިނާ ކުރުމުގައި ބަސް ބުނުމަށް އަމިއްލަ ގޮތުން ވާދަކުރައްވާ ކެންޑިޑޭޓު އަހުމަދު ފާރިސް މައުމޫން އެދިވަޑައިގެންފި

ލައިވް ބްލޮގް - https://t.co/pt7eVJJmnU pic.twitter.com/iqjaJeZbxC

— sun.mv (@sunbrk) September 9, 2023

Independent presidential candidate, Ahmed Faris Maumoon casts ballot.

Speaking to reporters outside the polling station, the MRM president urged everyone to do their civic duty and vote.

He said the vote is an important decision to shape the country’s future.

“This is a very important decision to shape the future,” he said.

Faris said the people must vote for the candidate of their choice and have their say in the country’s future.

Democrats’ presidential candidate, Hulhudhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb casts his ballot. He cast his ballot into the box for Addu constituents at the polling station in Kalaafaanu School in Male’.

Seriously concerned that many polling stations in Male' has no Monitors, Observers or Candidate's Representative Cards supposed to be given to the applicants. This is not acceptable. @ElectionsMv must resolve this issue immediately.
I call the international delegates present…

— Adam Shareef Umar (@Adamshareefz) September 9, 2023

Police say they have not received reports of any election-related violence so far.

EC warns that monitors that using their cameras to zoom-in and take pictures of ballot papers is a criminal offense.

The commission said that monitors found to commit such acts will have their monitor pass revoked and get expelled from polling stations.

PNC’s presidential candidate, Dr. Muizzu urgers voters not to wait until the last minute, and vote for the candidate of their choice, as soon as possible.

First Lady Fazna Ahmed casts her ballot.

Elections Commission (EC) says polling has begun in all stations, except for in London and Abu Dhabi.

ރިޔާސީ އިންތިޚާބު 2023 ގެ ވޯޓުލުން ލަންޑަން އަދި އަބޫދާބީގައި ފިޔަވާ ވަނީ ފެށިފައި

— Elections Commission (@ElectionsMv) September 9, 2023

Opposition PNC candidate Dr. Mohamed Muizzu casts his ballot. The Male’ City mayor cast his ballot at a polling station in Thaajuddin School.

JP’s presidential candidate Qasim Ibrahim casts his ballot.

The Maamigili MP, who contested in both the 2013 and the 2018 elections, cast his ballot into the box for West Maafannu constituents at a polling station at the Social Center.

JP ge riyaasee candidate Hon Qasim ibrahim vote lahvavaifi pic.twitter.com/EZ8t51TU4Y

— JP Secretariat (@JPSecretariat) September 9, 2023

Polling didn’t begin at the polling station in Vilimale’ for constituents of other islands until 08:45 am due to a shortage of ballot papers.

742 voters were registered to the box, but the station only had 737 ballot papers.

Voting began after more ballot papers were brought in.

PNC’s leader Abdul Raheem Abdulla (Adhurey), the interim leader of the opposition PPM-PNC coalition, has cast his ballot.

Other top PPM-PNC officials have also begun arriving in polling stations.

Opposition PNC’s running mate, MP Hussain Mohamed Latheef (Sembe) casts his vote. He cast his ballot into the box for GDh. Atoll constituents at a polling station in Thaajuddin School.

No issues have been reported from any of the polling stations so far.

Polling has begun in the vote to elect Maldives’ president for the next five years. Polling began at 08:00 am and is set to close at 04:00 pm.

Polls open at 08:00 am. However, some voters began queueing at several polling stations in Male’ City around 07:00 am.