MDP: Not issuing three ballot papers to all is intimidation, it compromises voter confidentiality

The Elections Commission (EC) has decided that voters who choose not to participate in any of the three votes being taken Saturday will not be issued the relevant ballot paper, sparking concern from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Polling is underway across the Maldives on the local council elections, the women’s development committee elections, and a referendum on synchronizing the presidential and parliamentary elections.

The EC announced on Friday night that if a voter states they do not wish to take part in any of the three polls, then they will not be issued the ballot paper for the poll they wish to opt out of.

The commission also said that the names of these voters will be publicly announced at polling stations.

But in a post on X on Saturday morning, MDP expressed concern over the decision.

“This party is concerned that all voters aren’t being issued ballot papers for all three polls being taken today. This is an attempt to compromise voter confidentiality,” reads a post by MDP on X.

The party alleged the decision was made by the EC at the behest of the government to intimidate government employees, and violate their right to vote.

The MDP asked the EC to refrain from such decisions.

މިއަދު ނަގާ 3 ވޯޓުގެ ކަރުދާސް ކޮންމެ މީހަކަށް ދޫނުކުރުމަކީ މި ޕާޓީން ކަންބޮޑުވާ ކަމެއް.
މިއީ، ވޯޓުގެ ސިއްރުކަން ގެއްލުވައިލުމަށް ކުރާ ކަމެއް.
މި ކަމަކީ، ސަރުކާރު މުވައްޒަފުންނަށް ބިރު ދައްކައި، އެ މީހުންގެ ވޯޓުލުމުގެ ހައްޤަށް ހުރަސްއެޅުމަށް ސަރުކާރުން ބޭނުންވެގެން @ElectionsMv…

— MDP Secretariat (@MDPSecretariat) April 4, 2026

Speaking to reporters on Friday night, EC’s president Mohamed Zahid said that voting is voluntary, and that the commission had implemented the same decision during the 2021 local council elections and women’s development committee elections.

He said that the names of voters who wish to opt out of a vote will be publicly announced at polling stations, and that the commission will also be writing an incident report, and show the ballot paper in question wasn’t used.

294,876 people are eligible to vote in Saturday’s elections.