Re-registration of 78,964 voters complete: EC

The Elections Commission (EC) revealed on Sunday that out of the 95,737 forms submitted for re-registration, only 78,964 forms were registered.

Citizens who are voting in a different constituency from their native one, are required to re-register prior to the upcoming Presidential Election. After verifying individual forms, EC had rejected 5,626 forms.

The commission had also revised and revealed an updated voters' list which gives voting eligibility to 262,135 citizens.

During a press conference held Sunday, the EC's President Ahmed Shareef stated that the forms were rejected after verifying the legitimacy of their fingerprints through the police. He noted that if the fingerprints on the forms did not match or could not be identified, the forms were rejected.

Shareef revealed that while over 3,000 forms had fingerprint legitimacy issues, 1,800 forms had falsified fingerprints. He added that there were forms without any fingerprints as well.

Shareef urged the 5,626 people to re-check the voters' list, stating that they have not lost their rights to vote yet.

According to the commission, starting from August 27, they will give three days to those whose forms were rejected to re-submit. During this period, EC will accept complaints from citizens registered at the wrong constituency as well.

When asked about the 11,149 forms remaining after registering 78,964 forms and rejecting 5,626 forms, Shareef said that there were some repeated forms, adding that they have rejected some of the repeated ones as well.

Summary of election information revealed at the EC press briefing:

- 472 ballot boxes will be placed

- 10,506 monitors will monitor the election proceedings

- 2,524 observers will be at the voting

- 34 international monitors will take part

- 25 international monitors were invited as observers

- 5 independent observers will take part

- 1,895 officials have been appointed

This year the Presidential Election will be held on September 23, with only two candidates, President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom from the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives, and Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (Ibu) from the joint opposition coalition.