12 September 2013
At the eleventh meeting of the National Advisory Committee for Elections (NAC) held at the Elections Commission’s (EC) headquarters on 12 September 2013, Transparency Maldives (TM) sought clarifications, made comments and observations and provided advise. A summary of the details follow.
The meeting was convened at the request of Jumhooree Party.
1. Jumhooree Party made three requests: 1. Recount of all 470 ballot boxes; 2. Provide JP the voter registry with ID card information; and 3. Copies of lists of all citizens who voted at each of the 470 polling stations.
1.1 Recount of all 470 ballot boxes
The EC informed the committee that counting all 470 ballot boxes is a huge challenge provided the limited time frame; and that the legal framework does not allow for opening of envelopes containing ballot papers for recounting without a basis.
The EC however stressed that the all members of the commission are willing to conduct a recount of any ballot box where credible evidence of fraud is presented to the commission.
All of the representatives of the candidates present at the meeting, except for MDP representative advised the EC to recount all 470 ballot boxes.
1.2. Provide JP with the voter registry, including the ID card information
The EC informed the committee that the EC is unable to do so as the ID card information is private information of citizens.
1.3 Copies of lists of all citizens who voted at each of the 470 polling stations
The EC informed the committee that the EC will provide the copies of lists of all citizens who voted at the 470 polling stations only at an order of the court as the legal framework prohibits the EC from handing over the information.
Other points of note
- EC informed the committee that the final results of the first round of Presidential Election 2013 will be made public at 3pm, 14 September.
- JP informed the committee that from their investigations, they have so far located on the voter registry: 659 deceased persons; 1,800 non-existent entrees that do not correspond to Department of National Registration data; 6,000 people who have been moved or put under households without their knowledge; 100 repeated names; and 20 reports of underage or children whose age were increased and then voted on 7 September 2013.
About the National Advisory Committee for Elections
The National Advisory Committee (NAC) is convened by the Elections Commission (EC) and is the highest statutory advisory body for elections. The committee comprises the five members of the Elections Commission, a representative of each of the four candidates contesting the Presidential Elections 2013, a member of the Maldives Broadcasting Commission, Maldives Media Council and the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives, a representative of the Maldives Police Service and civil society.
Transparency Maldives’ (TM) Advocacy and Communications Manager, Aiman Rasheed sits on the National Advisory Committee for Elections as the civil society representative.
Links to previous NAC meeting updates are given below.