The Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has stated that there are currently no challenges in the recruitment of officials who will be stationed at polling stations for the upcoming presidential election.
Speaking to PSM News, Vice President of ECM Ismail Habeeb said that there were initial challenges in securing officials for the election. However, he emphasised that challenges have now been successfully addressed. He further stated that the recruitment of officials will prioritise individuals who maintain a neutral stance and do not align with any specific political movement or party.
Additionally, Habeeb highlighted that officials will be required to commit to a specific code of conduct before participating in electoral activities. He emphasised that the individuals most crucial to the election process are the officials actively involved. Consequently, he underscored that advocating for any particular political party contradicts the established code of conduct for election officials.
ECM has revealed its successful recruitment of 5,600 officials for the upcoming presidential election. ECM has effectively fulfilled this requirement with over 5,000 officials already recruited. The electoral body elaborated that the training sessions for election officials were held at its main headquarters at Dharubaaruge' convention centre from July 15-21. The training sessions began in the atolls on August 20, while it commenced in Male' on August 21.
A total of 574 polling stations will be set up in the Maldives and five other countries for this year's presidential election. The first round of voting is scheduled to be held on September 9 and a possible second round will be held on September 30. The eligible voting population for the presidential election is 282,672 voters.
The upcoming presidential election marks a significant milestone as it witnesses the largest number of candidates vying for the presidency since the inception of the multi-party system. As such, eight candidates are contesting the presidential election, including five candidates from parties and three independent candidates.