Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has decided to submit a request to the Parliament of the Maldives to further postpone the local council elections.
The local council elections are currently scheduled to be held on April 10. The recent amendment to the Special Act on Local Council Elections permits the elections to be held amid the State of Public Health Emergency, albeit in accordance to the specific guidelines set by Health Protection Agency (HPA) for the elections. However, ECM has raised concerns over some major logistical difficulties in conducting the elections in accordance to the guidelines.
Speaking to PSM News, President of ECM Ahmed Shareef said there are major difficulties in meeting the April 10 deadline for the elections, while following the HPA guidelines. Therefore, he said ECM plans to submit a request to the Parliament next week to request further postponement of the elections.
As per the HPA guidelines, isolated voting arrangements must be made for individuals who test positive for COVID-19 or become a direct contact of a positive case, even if they are taken to another island or region for isolation. However, ECM has said it is legally impossible to make this arrangement, as the Electoral Act does not allow individuals to vote at a location different from the registered location.
Furthermore, ECM states HPA guideline does not allow resort employees to re-register to vote at another location. Noting ECM normally practices a policy where resort employees are required to travel to another island to vote if the resort does not reach the minimum number of re-registered voters to receive a ballot box, the head of the electoral body said ECM cannot practice this policy for the upcoming elections as resort employees are not allowed to travel between islands as per the HPA guideline. Therefore, he said ballot boxes will have to be placed in every resort in order to ensure every person is provided with the right to vote, as mandated by law.
Shareef states ECM plans to submit their concerns to the Parliament in order to resolve the matter. He said ECM will continue preparations for the elections unless the Parliament decides to further postpone the elections.
As per the Special Act on Local Council Elections, which was ratified last year to allow the elections to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the elections must be held within one year of the date of ratification of the Act. Therefore, according to this clause, the elections must be held latest by May 9.