The deadline for presidential candidates to sign voter lists will not be extended beyond tonight, the Elections Commission (EC) has said.
EC Vice President Ismail Habeeb told Adhadhu that five candidates have signed the lists since the process began on August 25. Three candidates have not signed yet, he said.
"MNP [Maldives National Party], Umar Naseer and The Democrats have not come to sign yet," Habeeb said.
Habeeb said no candidate would be allowed extra time to sign the lists after the deadline, which will not be extended at the request of any party or candidate.
"We have kept the opportunity open even now to sign the voters list. We won't give further time," he said.
The deadline for signing the lists expires at 10 pm tonight. Candidates are required to sign the lists to be kept with each of the 547 ballot boxes.
The requirement for candidates to sign voter lists was introduced in a guideline imposed by a Supreme Court judgment that annulled the presidential election held on September 7, 2013.
The candidates
- Umar Naseer (independent)
- Hassan Zameel (independent)
- Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (Maldivian Democratic Party)
- Dr. Mohamed Muizzu (People's National Congress)
- Qasim Ibrahim (Jumhooree Party)
- Ahmed Faris Maumoon (independent)
- Ilyas Labeeb (The Democrats)
- Mohamed Nazim (Maldives National Party)
Some 282,395 people are eligible to vote in the September 9 presidential election, including 27,006 first time voters.
The winning candidate must secure above 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate wins a majority in the first round, a run-off will be held between the first- and second-placed candidates.
The second round if required will take place on September 30.
