Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM) has stated the National Complaints Bureau has so far received 70 complaints over the Local Council Elections (LCE) and Women's Development Committee Elections (WDCE).
Speaking at a PSM News programme, Head of the National Complaints Bureau Ibrahim Hafiz said most of the complaints are over missing names in the voters' list and other registration issues, which have been investigated. Hafiz said there were also complaints over issues related to the rights of candidates, as well as issues regarding officials and campaign material. He said the Complaints Bureau takes offences regarding the elections seriously, as these offences undermine the rights of many voters and candidates.
ECM established the National Elections Complaints Bureau, consisting of five members, to investigate complaints regarding the upcoming LCE and WDCE.
Complaints bureaus consisting of three members have also been established in each atoll. ECM stated officials will also accept complaints at the polling stations during the elections, and will send over more serious complaints to the Complaints Bureaus.