The Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has announced its decision to discontinue the use of its 'Simedha Portal' for the submission of online political party membership registration forms.
The Simedha Portal, an online platform developed by the ECM, was designed to facilitate various electoral processes, including the submission of political party membership registration forms. The portal aimed to streamline and digitise the registration process, making it more accessible and efficient for political parties and their members.
This decision follows widespread public outrage over increasing allegations of fraudulent membership registrations. These allegations, primarily circulated on social media, accuse political parties of using forged signatures, altered photographs, and falsified information to inflate their membership numbers.
According to the ECM, it will cease accepting political party membership registration forms through the Simedha Portal on 30 January. This move also follows a decision by the ECM to integrate the Maldives' National Digital Identity service, eFaas, and transition to an online political party membership registration system. The ECM will commence using the eFaas system for political party membership registration starting on 15 February, it announced.
Speaking with PSM News about the concerns related to fraudulent membership registrations, Hassan Zakariyya, a member of the ECM, stated that the issue will be resolved through a comprehensive overhaul of the membership registration process. Zakariyya said adopting the e-Faas system to seek ECM services will resolve several challenges such as re-registrations and other issues. The issue of fraudulent registrations can also be effectively ended by submitting forms digitally through e-Faas, he said.