The Elections Commission says more than 8,000 individuals have sent in their applications to become observers and monitors for the upcoming Presidential Election scheduled for next month.
This comes after the Commission extended the application deadline more than once due to the lack of support for the posts.
The Vice President of the Commission Ismail Habeeb said that media outlets have sent in 4,545 applications for election monitors while political parties, NGOs, and civilians have sent in 3,607 applications to become election observers.
He said that the Commission has received a total of 8,152 application forms for observers and monitors.
Habeeb further said that the Commission is now verifying the applications and accrediting them ahead of the election.
He said that while the Commission would set up 574 ballot boxes for the election, each box would have 14 individuals as observers and monitors and that this was highly encouraging as the Commission aims to carry out its duties as the electoral watchdog within the regulations set in the country.
Habeeb noted that along with local observers and monitors, international observers and monitors would also be active for the election and that this election would be one of the most closely monitored elections the country has seen.
With less than one month to the Election, the Commission is scrambling to find election officials and has against extended its deadline.
