Mariya says enough invalid votes to invalidate election
Her comments suggested that the EC had invalidated the votes too easily.
By
Aminath Shifleen
MDP campaign manager, defence minister Mariya Ahmed Didi said on Tuesday that a large number of votes were wrongfully declared in Saturday's presidential election.
Official results of Saturday's presidential election show main opposition PPM-PNC's Dr Mohamed Muizz leading the polls with 46%, while President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih secured 39%.
To win outright, a candidate needs more than 50% of the votes. As no candidate crossed the threshold, a runoff between the top two contenders will take place on September 30.
More than 4,000 votes cast in Saturday's election were declared invalid for various reasons.
At a rally with MDP campaigners at a party camp on Chaandhanee Magu Tuesday evening, Mariya criticised the Elections Commission (EC) for the election arrangements and other matters.
Her comments suggested that the EC had invalidated the votes too easily.
"Even if an old man marked over their check mark because his old eyes couldn't make out his first mark, the vote was invalidated saying that the rules were not followed," she said.
"So why don't an EC member sit there to make the perfect mark. Our elderly people don't know how to make such a mark."
Mariya also criticised the EC for the polling arrangements. They include:
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There is no wheelchair access for the elderly; no seating arrangements
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In previous elections, people over the age of 65 were facilitated to vote quickly, but this time there was no such relief
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People with kidney disease and asthma queued for hours; In the end, many people went home without voting
Mariya said there was an opportunity to take these issues to the Supreme Court but the MDP would not do so.
"There are enough invalid votes to go to the Supreme Court and invalidate [the election]”, she explained.
Mariya urged as many people as possible to vote in the runoff.
