Candidates competing in the fast-approaching presidential election will be signing the final list of eligible voters from August 25 – 27.

This was revealed by Vice President of the Elections Commission Ismail Habeeb.

Habeeb revealed that the final voters’ list for the September polls will be printed out and signing on behalf of the candidates will take place at Dharubaaruge in the capital Malé City from August 25 – 27.

Habeeb went on to reveal that the candidates have been informed that they have the option to provide signatures of five representatives on behalf of each candidate.

RaajjeMV understands that the process has already begun, as officials from the EC also have to sign the voters’ list.

The process of candidates signing the voters’ list comes as per the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court in 2013, after the occurrences of that year’s election. Since then, the election process is to be conducted as per the Supreme Court ordered guidelines.

The final list of eligible voters for the September polls was publicized very recently. The commission revealed that a total of 282,395 individuals are eligible to vote in the September polls.

Habeeb noted that the final list was released on their website after carefully combing through the complaints received during the period given to submit complaints. Habeeb went on to highlight that no further changes will be made to the final list unless ordered by a judicial court of the Maldives.

Reregistration for the September polls was opened by the commission on July 16 and the online reregistration period expired on August 2, with physical submissions having closed on August 5.

This year’s presidential election is slated for September 9 and eight candidates are competing including five from major political parties and three independent candidates.

Running for presidency this year are the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s candidate, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih aspiring to be re-elected for a second term, candidate of the People’s National Congress (PNC) Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, Ilyas Labeeb from The Democrats, Jumhooree Party’s Gasim Ibrahim, Mohamed Nazim running through Maldives National Party (MNP).

The independent candidates vying for presidency are Ahmed Faris Maumoon, Umar Naseer and Hassan Zameel.

The Elections Commission disclosed that they received a total of 9,887 applications from the Maldives including with 4,545 monitors, 3,607 observers, 1,735 delegates on behalf of candidates, to observe the presidential election.

EC had received 1,735 applications to place delegates at each polling booth where each party or each candidate can put a representative on behalf of them, by the end of August 17. As such, a total of 458 applications were received from MDP, 217 from JP, 548 from PNC, 271 from MNP and 241 from The Democrats.