The Elections Commission of the Maldives has announced an extension to the deadline for registration for individuals with visual impairments that intend to vote in the upcoming parliamentary election.
ECM has extended the registration period for voters with visual impairments until February 20, facilitating their ability to vote independently. Interested individuals can register by dialing the 1414 hotline, operational from 0800 to 1000hrs on official working days and from 0900 to 1000hrs on public holidays. In addition, the hotline service will be available from 1500 to 1800hrs on Fridays.
Registration for the parliamentary election began on January 21 for visually impaired individuals wishing to vote independently, with the deadline originally set for February 4.
Previously, individuals with visual impairments relied on assistance from others to cast their votes. However, the introduction of a plastic template in the last presidential election has enabled visually impaired voters to exercise their right independently, ensuring both privacy and autonomy.
ECM has also decided to offer training to individuals interested in voting using templates across all islands in the Maldives. The training sessions are scheduled to take place from February 26 to March 6.