Male’, Maldives —The Elections Commission (EC) has announced that Th. Gaadiffushi and L. Maavashu will revote for the local council elections that was held on 10 April 2021.
The statement from EC comes after the commission confirmed that two citizens from another constituency had voted for the candidates of Th. Gaadhiffushi and L. Maavashu.
While speaking at the press conference that was held last night, the President of EC, Ahmed Shareef stated that this decision was made due two citizens from another constituency voting at the wrong ballot box is an indication that the election results maybe affected, especially since the seats were won by a small margin.
EC has announced that voting will take place again in only one constituency of Th. Gaadhiffushi between the two female candidates who won and lost by a slight difference.
In L. Maavashu, EC has announced that voting will take place again between two candidates who are competing for the position of a Councilor as two citizens had voted for the wrong ballot box. Along with this, voting will also take place again between two members who applied for the council with a slight difference between their results in the elections and has the possibility that the previous results may change.
Although EC has not yet announced when the voting will take place again, EC Shareef noted that only those who are registered can vote in this elections as well.
On April 13, a candidate of the ruling MDP Party has filed a complaint to the Elections Commission stating that two citizens from another constituency had voted for the candidates of Th. Gaadhiffushi who had participated in the local council elections that was held on last Friday as there were two ballots remaining after the voting ended.
While there are accusations that two voters from another constituency has voted for the candidates of Th. Gaadhiffushi, a PPM candidate was elected for one of the two chairs of the Women’s Development Committee with a two vote difference.
An unofficial summary of the results from the local council elections that was held on previous Friday shows that although MDP has once again won majority of the seats across the country, this time they have lost the support of MDP strongholds, losing chairs from several constituencies to the Opposition parties and independent candidates.
