EC asks people to exercise right to vote 'as soon as possible'

Elections Commission (EC) has advised people to exercise their right to vote, as soon as possible.

EC’s vice chairman Ismail Habeeb said the presidential election is an important opportunity that the people receive every five years.

“So, my advice is to exercise that right as soon as possible,” he said.

Habeeb advised people to vote the candidate of their choice, free of any and all influence.

ރިޔާސީ އިންތިހާބު 2023 ގެ ވޯޓުލުން ފެށޭނީ، ހެނދުނު 8:00 ގައި.
ވޯޓުލުން ނިމޭނީ ހަވީރު 4:00 ގައި.
ހެނދުނު 7:30 ން ފެށިގެން،
ކިޔޫ ގައި މަޑުކުރެވޭނެ.
ވޯޓުލާން ފުރަތަމަ އަންނަ 2 މީހުންގެ ހާޒިރުގައި ސެކިޔުރިޓީ އުރަ ކަނޑާލުމަށްފަހު، 8 ޖަހާއިރު ވޯޓުލުން ފެށިގެން ދާނެ.
ހަވީރު 4…

— Ismail Habeeb (@IsmailHabeeb) September 9, 2023

He provided assurance the EC will ascertain voter confidentiality.

“There should be no coercion. We, the Elections Commission, assure you that you can go to the polling station and vote for the candidate of your choice without fear,” he said.

Polling began in Maldives at 08:00 am on Saturday.

282,395 people are eligible to vote in the presidential election on Saturday, including over 27,000 first-time voters.

Polls close at 04:00 pm.