Self exiled former president Mohamed Nasheed Saturday ruled out the possibility of electoral fraud amid opposition concerns over the independence of the archipelago's electoral watchdog.
Nasheed, who has been granted political asylum by the British government, during an interview to 'Minivan Radio' on Saturday said ballots are counted in front of voters and observers of candidates.
"I know that fake ballots can be cast. Such incidents of fraud may be possible. But we should be able to supervise this. What is the purpose of the island and its people if we fail to do this much? Everybody's vote cannot be stolen by the fear of batons," Nasheed has said at time when the opposition is alleging that the Elections Commission may face influence from the government.
"I believe that we must participate in the vote counting the same way we go to vote. If we do not, then it is useless to complain after," Nasheed said.
While the power of the councils established under a decentralized system has been greatly reduced, the former President has still stressed on the importance of going and voting in the upcoming elections next January.
"We have to keep this engine running even if it is for the short distance. No improvement will come from stopping our effort," the former President said describing the decentralized system as a machine.
Elections Commission had tried to introduce electronic voting for the first time in Maldives for the upcoming Local Council Elections. Elections Commission later scrapped the plan however after complaints by the oppositions saying that the system will not be just.
