Campaign, anti-campaign activities were held on voting day: HRCM

The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has said that campaign and anti-campaign activities were held by political parties on voting day, 7 September 2013, during the first round of the presidential election.

In its Observation Report published yesterday, HRCM said that an appropriate environment for voting existed during the first round of the presidential election; however, campaign and anti-campaign activities were held by supporters of political parties on voting day.

The Presidential Election Regulation of the Elections Commission states that it is prohibited to hold campaign activities from 6:00 p.m. on the day before the election.

HRCM said that the election was well conducted, and that the administrative preparations made by the Elections Commission were ‘generally efficient’.

HRCM noted, however, that officials at some ballot stations were not familiar with the relevant laws and regulations, which resulted in confusion and hesitance on their part when required to take administrative action.