Transparency Maldives has reported a smooth start to the voting process and overall good progress.
The voting process commenced promptly at 8:00 a.m. across all polling stations, with 85.8 percent of them commencing on time, as confirmed by Transpareny. The association said officials were present on time at all polling stations.
According to Transparency Maldives, candidate representatives were in attendance at every polling station, with 89.5 percent of polling stations having representatives from at least three different candidates, and every polling station had at least one candidate representative. Representatives of at least five candidates were present at 7.2 percent of the polling stations.
Transparency Maldives said polling materials were available at all polling stations, and all ballot papers were counted before the initiation of the voting process. All ballot boxes were confirmed empty before voting commenced.
Observers reported that 97 percent of the ballot boxes were positioned to ensure the secrecy of the vote, while the remaining three percent lacked the safeguard. The association is closely monitoring the boxes.
Transparency Maldives reported that police presence was observed outside 96 percent of the polling stations. The association said its observers will be on duty at polling stations during the polling and counting process and until the counting is complete.
