EC asks voters not to loiter at polling stations

Elections Commission (EC)’s chairman Fuad Thaufeeq has urged people not to loiter at polling stations after voting, as tens of thousands of Maldivians vote in the parliamentary elections.

Polls opened in the tightly-contested parliamentary elections at 08:00 am on Sunday.

Speaking from a makeshift polling station at the Maafannu Stadium, EC’s chairman Fuad Thaufeeq told Sun that no major incident has been reported so far.

He said that there have however been minor incidents, stemming from misunderstandings or miscommunications.

“Overall, its going very smoothly and peacefully. There isn’t a long queue anywhere. There have been no interruptions to voting. Everything appears to be going ahead smoothly,” he said.

Fuad added that voters were following voting guidelines.

But he urged voters against loitering at polling stations in order to avoid overcrowding, and possible conflicts.

“When loitering outside [polling stations], people from different parties or supporters of different candidates will congregate and it may result in verbal exchanges and fights, and things may escalate,” he warned.

According to information released by the Elections Commission (EC), 47,296 people cast their ballots as of 10:00 am, making for a voter turnout of 16.61 percent.

This includes 29,411 men (10.33 percent) and 17,885 women (6.28 percent).

237,367 people (89.39 percent) have yet to cast their ballot.

Polls will close at 05:30 pm.