Member of the Election Commission of the Maldives (ECM) Hassan Zakariyya asserts that there is a pressing need for a national solution, addressing the lack of interest among newly eligible young voters in exercising their right to vote.
Speaking on PSM news's Raajje Miadhu program, Zakariyya expressed that there are several reasons behind the lower turnout observed in the recent parliamentary elections compared to previous elections. Therefore, the ECM expressed concern over the voter turnout not aligning with the increase in the number of eligible voters.
Moreover, Zakariyya emphasised the significance of conducting a comprehensive analysis of the decline in voter participation, highlighting the significance of political parties engaging in activities that encourage people to cast their ballots.
Additionally, Zakariyya stressed that all state institutions should take into public's reluctance to voice their opinions or participate in voting when formulating policies.
Notably, this year's elections marked the lowest turnout in parliamentary elections conducted under the current constitution, with 75% of the eligible voters casting their ballots. While 78% of the population voted in the parliamentary elections in 2009, 77% of the populace voted in 2014. Concurrently, 81% of eligible voters had cast their ballot in the parliamentary elections in 2019.