Transparency Maldives urges all parties to maintain the climate of peace

The opening of the polls in the parliamentary elections was smooth, and the administrative preparation went well, reports Transparency Maldives, while urging all parties to maintain the climate of peace.

In a press statement regarding the opening of polls on Sunday, the rights watchdog said that found 89.3 percent of polling stations opened by 08:10 am, and all polling stations opened before 09:00 am.

“The opening of the polls was smooth, and the administrative preparation went well,” said Transparency Maldives.

Transparency Maldives is observing the ongoing elections with an observer network around the country spanning Malée’, the atolls, and prisons, as well as abroad in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

It has nearly 270 observers and volunteers deployed across 205 ballots boxes across the country and abroad.

The key findings by Transparency Maldives:

The opening of the polls was smooth, and the administrative preparation went well. 89.3% of polling stations opened by 8.10am, and all polling stations opened before 9:00am.

Nearly all polling station officials were in place at all polling stations.

The materials required for voting were present and the ballot papers were counted at all the polling stations. 99% of ballot boxes were verified as empty at the opening of the polls.

Candidate representatives and Party observers are well represented across all polling stations, with 1 or more observers present at 93.7% of the polling stations.

Police presence was visible outside of 95% of the observed polling stations at the time of opening.

Polling stations were set up to ensure a ballot secrecy in 96% of polling stations. Transparency Maldives observers will be closely monitoring the 4% of the polling station where the secrecy of the ballot may be compromised due to the layout of the polling station.

The rights watchdog urged all parties to maintain the climate of peace.

“We encourage all parties to maintain the climate of peace. We encourage the public to go out and vote,” said Transparency Maldives. “Our observers are working hard at polling stations and will be present at the polling stations until the polls are closed and the results are announced.”

Polls opened at 08:00 am and are set to close at 05:30 pm. Elections Commission (EC) has said that polling time will not be extended.

Total 368 candidates are contesting in the elections for 93 seats in the Parliament, including six new seats. This includes: 90 candidates from the main ruling People’s National Congress (PNC); 89 candidates from Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP); 39 candidates from the Democrats; 10 candidates from Jumhoory Party (JP); four candidates from Maldives Development Alliance (MDA); four from Adhaalath Party (AP); two from Maldives National Party (MNP); and 130 independent candidates.

Total 284,663 people are eligible to vote in this year’s elections.