The Election Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has ordered candidates and political parties to refrain from placing campaign materials that obstruct the views of security cameras and traffic lights.
Ismail Habeeb, the Vice-President of the ECM, expressed concern over the placement of campaign materials belonging to presidential candidates throughout the city which obstructs the line of sight of security cameras maintained by the Maldives Police Service (MPS), as well as impeding the visibility of roadways and traffic lights situated on bridges. In an effort to swiftly rectify the situation, ECM has requested all candidates and political parties to remove these obstructive posters within a 24-hour timeframe.
Habeeb revealed that ECM and MPS have convened meetings with the official election agents of the candidates to inform them to refrain from engaging in such unlawful activities. With respect to the electoral laws and regulations, the ECM has advised candidates against affixing, attaching, or displaying campaign materials on roads and buildings without obtaining the necessary permissions.
Further, Habeeb urged all political parties to assume greater responsibility for their campaign activities. He underscored that deploying security forces to intervene and curtail such activities is not the answer.