The Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has printed 285,219 ballot papers for the presidential election. A total of 282,395 are eligible to vote in the election on September 9, which includes 27,000 new voters.
ECM stated that Novelty Printers and Publishers Private Limited has printed 285,219 ballot papers for the election and that officials have transferred all necessary equipment and resources to the polling stations. Voters will receive one ballot paper each containing the names and numbers of the eight candidates contesting the election.
ECM will place 574 ballot boxes for the presidential election and will establish polling stations in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Trivandrum in India, Colombo in Sri Lanka, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, and London in the United Kingdom (UK). Polling stations will also be opened in 65 resorts.
Additionally, ECM will be implementing procedures to enable visually impaired voters to mark their ballots independently in the presidential election, in accordance with the third amendment to the Elections General Act. The new rules allow for the use of a plastic template sheet over the ballot paper with boxes cut out to make it easier for visually impaired persons to cast their vote.
Furthermore, ECM stated that voters will be allowed to mark their ballot paper using blue or black pens and that papers marked with other colours will be invalid. Voters are not required to bring their own pens, as pens will be available at the polling stations. In addition, ballot papers will be invalid if they are marked more than once or if marked with any symbol other than a check mark. The ballot papers will also be invalid if they have been marked with drawings.