The six ballot boxes requested for recount by main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) will not be recounted, the Elections Commission (EC) has decided.
MDP requested the Elections Commission to recount ballots cast for six constituencies of Male' City in the Local Council Elections held on April 10th. The party said it requested the Elections Commissions for a recount due to the high number of invalid votes recorded from the boxes compared to previous council elections.
The six boxes MDP requested for recount are:
T-3 : Henveiru Central constituency (82 invalid votes)
T-4: Henveiru South constituency (93 invalid votes)
T-5: Henveiru West constituency (103 invalid votes)
T-10: Macchangolhi North constituency (69 invalid votes)
T-14: Maafannu North constituency (181 invalid votes)
T-16: Maafannu West constituency (124 invalid votes)
Speaking at a press conference held on Monday, EC's President Ahmed Shareef Adam said all complaints lodged by MDP are regarding the number of invalid votes being more than the difference between votes received by candidates. However, it is not enough grounds to recount an entire ballot box, said Shareef. If the commission were to recount ballot boxes for the reason, it would have to recount between 300 to 400 ballot boxes, he added. If a recount is being requested, evidence that an invalid vote had been counted as a valid vote or vice versa should be summited, he said.
EC will be recounting 11 ballot boxes in total. They are ballot boxes set up in Th. Madifushi, Dh. Meedhoo, Vilamandhoo Resort, L. Kalhaidhoo, and Ga. atoll ballot box number 6 set up in Male' City, a box set up in D. Rinbidhoo, L. Olhuvelifushi, M. Raiymandhoo, Th. Dhiyamigili and Ga. Dhevvadhoo.
