Most of the Electoral Officials at the ballot stations across the country have begun counting ballots after voting for today's election drew to a close earlier.
The Elections Commission closed down voting queues at prompt 04:00 p.m. and said that it would not be extending voting time. But the Commission said that those voters in queue before the cutoff time would be allowed to cast their ballots.
Scuffles broke out in several polling stations in the capital Male' as many tried to get into the queue after polling closed.
Meanwhile, officials are now counting ballots at stations that have finished voting. Early results show that MDP Candidate President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and PNC Candidate Dr. Mohamed Muizzu are in the lead with a minimal vote difference between the two candidates.
With 8 candidates vying for the Presidency, any candidate who is declared winner of the first round of voting must secure 50 percent plus 1 vote.
If no candidate is able to win the required number of votes, the winner of the election would decided in a run-off between the two candidates who received the highest number of votes in the first round.
The run-off of the election would be held on the 30th of this month.
