Queues at polling stations have closed across the country as the Elections Commission (EC) officials prepare to begin vote counting in Saturday's presidential election.
Some 282,395 people are eligible to vote in the presidential election, including 27,006 first time voters. According to the latest figures, 63 percent have cast their ballots.
EC stated that voting hours will not be extended and that voters will not be allowed to join the queue after 4 pm. Vote counting will begin 30 minutes after the ballot box is sealed.
A total of 574 polling stations have been set up with 176 in Male' region, 319 in the atolls, 65 in resorts, eight in different countries, five in prisons and one in industrial islands.
