Hassan Zakariyya, a member of the Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM), has projected that voter turnout in today’s election will likely reach 70 per cent.
Speaking on the progress of the polls, Zakariyya noted that by 4:00 pm, turnout had already reached 63 per cent.
In an exclusive interview with PSM News, he highlighted that while previous local council elections typically recorded turnouts ranging between 60 and 65 per cent, current statistical trends indicate that participation this time is expected to reach the 70 per cent mark.
Addressing the conduct of the election, Zakariyya observed that despite challenges faced by voters standing in queues due to high temperatures, the overall process has proceeded smoothly and efficiently. He further assured that although the queues officially closed at 5:00 pm, everyone who was in line by that time would be given the opportunity to cast their vote.
Regarding the counting process, Zakariyya stated that ballot counting would commence within 30 minutes of the polls closing. As a result, it is anticipated that the counting of most ballot boxes will begin by 6:00 pm.
He added that two distinct arrangements will be used for the vote-counting process: ballot boxes with a high number of registered voters will use two counting setups, while those with fewer voters will use a single setup. He further noted that the objective is to announce all final results before midnight.
Addressing concerns regarding election-related complaints, Zakariyya revealed that over 40 complaints have been received thus far. He noted that the majority relate to administrative procedures, re-registration processes, and campaign-related matters. However, he assured that these are common occurrences during elections and will not affect the overall results.