Low initial turnout as local council elections proceed

Local council elections are underway in the Maldives, dispelling fears that recurring issues with the signing of voter registries would halt polls.

Early reports suggest voter turnout to be low, with a lack of general enthusiasm reflected in a muted election campaign by all parties.

A total of 2463 candidates are competing for 1100 seats – 951 island council, 132 atoll council, and 17 city council seats. Today’s council vote is only the second in the country’s history, after the landmark Decentralisation Act initiated by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) government in 2010.

Opening and 7:30am and closing at 4:30pm, polls are proceeding smoothly after the Elections Commission (EC) opted to continue in spite of the failure to gain candidate’s signatures on for the majority of ballot boxes.