Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) described the presidential election held on September 23 as free and fair.
According to a statement released by HRCM, there were fifteen HRCM observers active throughout the Maldives to ensure that the presidential election was free and fair. HRCM stated that the observers worked fervently to guarantee that the voting was in alignment with the rules and regulations of elections, as well as to prevent election fraud of any sort.
HRCM also pointed out the extraordinary voter turnout this year. However, the commission highlighted that improvement is needed in the administrative procedures pertaining to local elections, in order to prevent long waiting times in queues..
HRCM further stated that the election revealed the nationalistic spirit of Maldivians, and advised the people to uphold their patriotism.
The preliminary results of the presidential election tally at 134,616 votes for the opposition coalition's candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, and 96,132 votes for incumbent President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom. A staggering 89.22 percent of the eligible 262,135 turned out to vote in this year's election.
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