The election official who handed out scribbled ballot papers at the Number-3 ballot box in Laamu atoll Fonadhoo polling station has been dismissed.
Maldives Police Service earlier reported it received a complaint of an election official handing out scribbled on ballot papers.
The authority said it was looking into the matter.
Speaking with Mihaaru News, Elections Commission (EC) vice chief Ismail Habeeb said that voting at the polling station was interrupted temporarily following the complaint.
He said that voting resumed shortly after the official in question was relieved from their responsibilities.
"They were the official responsible for handing out the ballot papers. Once they have been removed from their roles, no other matters need to be addressed," Habeeb said.
"Voting will resume to a new ballot box," Habeeb said, noting that voting at the polling station will resume with voters casting ballots to a new box to ensure transparency.
The issue came to light after a voter complained that they received a scribbled ballot paper. They received two ballot papers, each upon demand and each rejected owing to drawings on them.
According to EC regulations, any additional writing or doodling besides the tick within the box beside the candidates will render the ballot void.
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