The Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has put forward a proposal to the National Advisory Committee on Elections regarding the handling of unused ballot papers after the presidential election, instead of immediately destroying them as per current practice.
During the committee meeting, the main opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) requested the immediate destruction of unused ballot papers to ensure the integrity of the election. PPM Vice President Ahmed Shiyam emphasized the importance of this step.
In response, ECM Vice President Ismail Habeeb explained that the request for immediate destruction was made by PPM even before the formation of the National Advisory Committee on Elections. He further clarified that, according to the current law, the remaining ballot papers can only be destroyed after 14 days. Habeeb highlighted potential criticisms if the papers were destroyed immediately after voting and proposed alternative methods such as cutting corners or puncturing holes in the papers. However, a final decision has not been reached on the matter.
During the meeting, Shiyam expressed concerns about the re-registration process for the upcoming presidential election, fearing that it would start from scratch, thereby limiting opportunities for everyone to re-register. Several other parties at the meeting echoed this concern.
Addressing the concerns, Habeeb stated that re-registration often starts anew during each presidential election, as Maldivians studying abroad typically leave for three years, and the ECM expects registration processes to change within a five-year timeframe.