The Elections Commission (EC) has clarified that ballots mistakenly placed in the wrong boxes during today’s voting process will not be invalidated, assuring voters that such votes will still be counted.
Speaking during the ongoing polling for the Local Council Elections, Women’s Development Committee (WDC) elections, and the 2026 national referendum, EC Vice President Abdul Rahman Salah Rasheed addressed concerns raised by voters regarding ballot handling.
At polling stations, three separate ballot boxes have been set up to accommodate the different votes being held simultaneously. Voters are required to place each completed ballot into its designated box.
However, Salah explained that if a ballot is accidentally dropped into the wrong box, it will remain valid and be included in the final count.
Complaints and Concerns
According to the EC, the National Advisory Committee on Elections has received 10 complaints so far during the voting process. These include reports of campaigning during restricted hours, as well as questions from voters worried that their ballots could be rejected due to placement errors.
Salah reassured the public that such mistakes would not affect the validity of their vote.
He noted that the Commission’s priority is to ensure that every valid vote cast by a citizen is counted, even in cases where procedural errors occur unintentionally.
Voting Continues
Polling is continuing across the Maldives, with voters casting ballots in three separate electoral processes taking place today.
Authorities have urged voters to remain calm and follow procedures at polling stations, while emphasizing that safeguards are in place to protect the integrity of the voting process.
