Several amendments have been proposed to the General Elections Act.
The amendments were moved by Henveiru North MP Ibrahim Muizzu on behalf of the government. The first reading of the bill was held in the Parliament on Monday.
The proposed amendments to the law include changing the time limit for notifying the Election Commission of the death, resignation, or dismissal of an official election agent. The amendment requires the Election Commission to be notified of the death, resignation, or dismissal of the official election agent within 48 hours.
Amendments were also proposed for the provision that ballot papers no more than one percent of the number of registered voters must be sent to a polling station. The amendment proposes that a maximum of one additional ballot paper be sent to a polling station if the number of registered voters is less than 100.
The proposed amendments also include allowing only registered journalists authorized by the Election Commission to monitor polling stations and counting stations on polling day.
It further proposed to change the rule that ballot material would be sent to polling stations in the custody of at least three persons appointed by the Elections Commission. The proposed amendment seeks to change the number to two people.
The current General Elections Act states that presidential candidates must submit their financial statements to the Election Commission within 21 days from the election date. The proposed amendment seeks to extend the period to one month.
