Run-off parties begin signing voter register

Both parties with candidates competing in Saturday’s presidential run-off have begun signing the voters lists this evening.

Local media reported that the Elections Commission had stated that all lists needed to be signed, rather than just those that had been changed after re-registration as had been the case previously.

The court mandated procedure, requiring all candidates sign the amended voter lists before the vote can proceed has caused problems in the run-up to both polls scheduled over the last month.

Police moved to block the October 19 vote after both the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and the Jumhooree Party refused to sign the lists. Last Saturday’s successful poll also came under threat when both parties again refused to sign the lists shortly before reversing their decision under intense international pressure.

The PPM’s candidate Abdulla Yameen also suggested he would not sign the voter lists for the run-off – originally scheduled for last Sunday (November 10) – before the Supreme Court stepped in to delay the vote.