Anti-campaigning against candidates is one of the main reasons for declining confidence in elections, the President of the Election Commission of the Maldives (ECM), Mohamed Zahid has said.
The ECM President made the remarks in an interview with PSM News on this year’s Voters’ Day, observed annually on 25 August.
Voters’ Day was first declared during the 2016 Democracy Day session, and is intended to highlight the importance of the right to vote. While voting is a fundamental responsibility of every citizen, it empowers people to shape the country’s future through the principles of democracy. By exercising this right, individuals contribute to the nation’s progress and development.
In the interview, Zahid said while voting remains one of the most important responsibilities in governing both island and nation, voter participation has declined in some elections.
To address this, he emphasised the need to restore confidence in candidates. He noted that voters must be assured that their choice is for a candidate who will contribute positively to the country. The most important factor in building this trust and confidence is avoiding anti-campaigning, he said.
Zahid said political campaigning is generally conducted in two ways: by encouraging voters to support one’s own candidates, and by discouraging people from voting for rival candidates. Zahid urged political parties to maintain fairness and justice in their campaigning, and to focus on gaining support in ways that earn the public’s trust.
“The more confidence there is in the elections, the more the people will participate,” he said. While the local council elections are approaching, Zahid has urged as many voters as possible to vote in the elections.
Since 2008, the Maldives has held democratic elections, with a president elected for a five-year term. According to official statistics, voter turnout has been increasing in each presidential election since the introduction of democracy in the Maldives.