Will monitor every aspect of voting: EU

The elections observers' team dispatched by the European Union (EU) to monitor the Maldives' presidential election has affirmed their commitment to remain vigilant throughout the entire polling process.

Polling stations across the Maldives opened at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday morning, September 9, with thousands of eligible voters, including several of the presidential candidates, having already cast their votes.

Speaking about their work, the EU observers' mission team's chief, the EU parliament member of Spain Nacho Sanchez Amore said his team have checklists for each phase of the polling.

"We will be collecting information from the beginning of the polling up to the ballot counting individually," Amore said.

Amore also said that his team of observers would closely monitor the proceedings at the polling stations, including the adequacy of voting equipment, the number of voting officials and observers at the stations, and any ease or hindrances that voters may face at the stations.

This year marks the largest EU team, with over 40 members, observing the presidential election in the Maldives.

Amore emphasized that the data collected through their checklists would aid them in analyzing and assessing the election proceedings.

"We are gathering a substantial amount of voting-related data," Amore said.

When asked to comment about rumors of bribery offers to voters, Amore said that he could not comment on it at this moment but assured that his team would remain vigilant to identify any misconduct.

He further confirmed that the findings from Saturday's election, gathered through the collected data, will be shared via a press conference on Monday, September 11.

Amore also said a detailed report will be compiled highlighting the observations his team made during the election.