Parliament rejects proposal to invalidate tagged ballot papers
Ruling coalition lawmakers voted against a proposal to invalidate ballot papers with symbols or markings a day after voting to accept the government-sponsored bill for consideration and sending it to a committee for review.
22 Nov 2016, 9:00 AM
Ruling party lawmakers rejected Tuesday changes proposed by the government to the election law to invalidate ballot papers with markings or symbols.
Some 43 MPs from the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives and coalition partner Maldives Development Alliance voted against the government-sponsored amendments to the 2008 Elections Act, a day after voting to accept the bill for consideration and sending it to a committee for review.
Ballot papers will be counted as invalid if there is any marking, writing or drawing apart from the tick next to the candidate’s name, states the amendment submitted on behalf of the government by PPM MP Ibrahim Didi.
Speaking hours before the vote, Didi said the change is necessary to ensure secrecy of the ballot as mandated by the constitution.
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