A bill proposing to prohibit drawing on the election ballot papers used by Elections Commission (EC) during elections was submitted to the parliament.
The bill, which was submitted by Hulhudhoo constituency's Progressive Party of Maldives MP Mohamed Shahid proposed amendments to the Elections General Act, voiding any ballot papers with scribbles and drawings.
Prior to this, on multiple occasions, the parliament failed to pass bills that proposed to prohibit the drawings.
MP Shahid’s reason for submitting the proposal was that drawing on the ballot paper would compromise the anonymity of the voter and that it would ensure voter secrecy as dictated in the constitution and Elections General Act.
The amendment was proposed as EC prepares to hold the upcoming Parliamentary Elections slated for April 6.
Bill proposals will be implemented after being passed by the parliament, ratified by the President and published in the Gazette.
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