EC ships ballot papers and boxes despite Supreme Court injunction

Elections Commission has completed shipping of ballot papers and ballot boxes to all designated polling location despite the Supreme Court order to postpone the second round of presidential election.

Secretary General of the Elections Commission Asim Abdul Sattar told Sun today that all ballot boxes and papers, along with the elections officials, have arrived in their destinations.

Asim said that the Commission began shipping the material before the Supreme Court injunction was issued. However, he said that the police have stopped providing support and security for the ballot papers following injunction, and that the security is now provided by elections officials and the council offices in the islands.

“Regardless of who’s handling them, you cannot guarantee that something will not happen. We are now certain that they will not be damaged,” Asim said.

Although the police have stopped supporting the Commission's preparations, EC reasoned their continued efforts by saying that the Supreme Court injunction does not order them to stop the preparations.

The Supreme Court injunction ordered the Elections Commission and relevant State institutions to postpone the second round of the presidential elections announced by the Commission for Saturday, the 28th of September, until the court issues a verdict on the case filed by Jumhoory Party.

When asked who will bear the expenses for transporting the election material and other expenses caused by the delay, Secretary General Asim said that the Commission has communicated their difficulties with the President, the Auditor General and other relevant authorities.

“The Commission has hired 250 additional staff for the election effort. Every island has a focal point. We have to pay every one of them. We have to consider all this, while the order has delayed [the election]. In principle, no one has to take responsibility. If there is a responsible party, it shall be determine by an institution of the State. We will also inform the Auditor General of how everything unfolds,” Asim said.

President of the Elections Commission Fuad Thaufeeq has said that the Commission will not defy the Supreme Court injunction and that there will not be an election on Saturday.