Ballot papers were printed on low quality paper: PPM

Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has said that the ballot papers used in the second round of the presidential election are of low quality.

Chairperson of PPM Election Committee Mohamed Tholal said that a complaint has been filed to the Elections Commission regarding the low quality of the ballot paper.

“We are deeply concerned about the quality of the ballot papers being used today. We’ve had several people call us and say they are worried about this,” he said.

He said that the ballot papers ‘almost’ do not have any security features.

“The ballot papers used last time and this time are very different in terms of quality. In addition, this time the papers are printed in black and white; and security features are so less, one could say that they do not have security features,” he said.

He said that this increases the chance of forged ballot papers being cast into the ballot boxes.

“This makes it very easy for people to create ballot papers and vote twice. We are very concerned, because it increases the chance of forged ballot papers being cast into the ballot boxes,” he said.

Tholal urged all voters, monitors and observers to pay attention to this issue.

“We advise the party representatives, monitors, and observers near the ballot boxes to observe, to see if voters cast any papers other than the ones used by the Elections Commission, and to check if there are any such papers in the ballot boxes when counting the votes,” he said.

He said that PPM has also informed the Elections Commission the issue of the ink used to mark voters’ fingers being easily removable, and the issue of officials near ballot boxes wearing t-shirts that carry a slogan that suggest support for a particular candidate.