Parliamentary Elections 2019

160,534 people have voted this far, which is 60% of those eligible

The President's Office has revealed that President Solih has declared Sunday a government holiday on account of the ongoing parliamentary elections.

Police officers continue to assist the elderly in casting their votes across the country.

The President has declared April 7, Sunday, a public holiday.

Elections Commission has extended voting time by two hours, both in Maldives and abroad.

More voters queue up at polling stations, which are set to close one hour from now.

140,900 people have voted in the parliamentary election. 46.72% of eligible voters have not yet voted.

The Elections Commission urges voters to go to the polling stations quickly or risk having to wait in long queues.

51.7 percent of total eligible voters have cast their ballot by 2:30pm

Transparency Maldives(TM)'s observers active at polling stations.

Noting that 99 percent of the polling stations were setup "to ensure secret vote," TM said that it will be closely monitoring the one percent "where the secrecy of ballot maybe compromised due to set up of the polling station."

It further encouraged "all parties to maintain the climate of peace and the public to to go out and vote." 

At 2pm, voter turn out in the parliamentary election has reached 126,737, which is 47.9 percent of total eligible voters.

Voting begins in the United Kingdom, at 1:30pm Maldives time.

With this, voting is underway at all polling stations, says ECM.

With 100,046 votes cast by 1pm, Elections Commissioner says "a sudden drop in turnout observed"

Over 100,000 people vote in the parliamentary election.

Three voters at the Addu City Feydhoo School polling station have been arrested for photographing ballot papers.

Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid accompanies his parents to the polling station.

A police officer assist an elderly voter at the polling station. Elderly people are exempt from waiting in queues.

National advisory committee for this year's parliamentary election holds 10th meeting.

Police have taken into custody a voter in GA. Villingili who is suspected of taking a photo of the ballot paper after voting.

Out of 264,442 eligible voters, 90,306 people have voted in the election thus far.

Three complaints regardings voting rights have been submitted to the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives. 

The commission's tweet says that the complaints have been submitted to the National Complaints Bureau, and two of them have been addressed. 

Observers from the Commonwealth are active at polling stations in capital city Malé and outlying islands. 

Out of the 264,442 eligible voters, a total of 66,672 people have voted in the election thus far.

Locals assist an elderly man to cast his vote.

Elections Commission earlier announced that the elderly is among the people who will not have to wait in a queue to cast their votes.

Maldives Police Service has revealed that two complaints regarding the ongoing ballots have been submitted. 

Police will reveal further details as they unfold, they revealed.

Vice President Faisal Naseem has cast his vote.

Speaking to press after casting his vote, VP Naseem reiterated President Solih's hope that the election will proceed smoothly and safely.

He went on to thank the Elections Commission for the well-organized election and thanked the people for their cooperation in ensuring the election goes smoothly.

VP Naseem was an MP for Kaashidhoo constituency.