Law doesn't allow digital ID in elections, EC says

The Elections Commission (EC) on Sunday said digital IDs cannot be used to cast votes as per the general law on elections.

The government is in the process of testing a digital identity system in the country. According to the government, efforts are being made to match the laws required for the same as the efforts to establish a digital identity.

EC Vice President Ismail Habeeb told Atoll times on Sunday that the polling station will issue ballot papers to the people only after checking an official identification document. He added that official identification documents defined in the law does not list a digital ID and so the service cannot be used during voting.

In the general election law, "official identification document" is interpreted as:

According to him, digital IDs can be used to vote in presidential elections only if laws are amended.

A total of 283,272 voters are eligible to vote this year in the September 9 elections.