The Election Commission (EC) has warned that candidates are increasingly using methods to influence voters that investigative agencies cannot “legally” act against under current laws.
Speaking on Raajje TV, EC member Hassan Zakaria said the commission has observed candidates exploiting legal loopholes to sway votes, highlighting serious challenges faced by election authorities and law enforcement.
He noted that while offering gifts in exchange for votes is a criminal offence, such practices are now being carried out through transactions that appear legally valid. As an example, Hassan cited cases where candidates rent rooms in a household at inflated prices to accommodate campaign teams, allegedly in exchange for securing votes from family members.
“For instance, renting four rooms at MVR 500 per day for three months could earn a family around MVR 100,000,” he said, adding that candidates often justify such arrangements as legitimate campaign-related expenses.
Hassan acknowledged that although these practices are widely understood to undermine free and fair elections, they are difficult to curb due to weaknesses in existing legislation. He said electoral laws drafted two decades ago are no longer adequate to address modern campaigning tactics, and the legal basis for investigations based on suspicion remains weak.
He also said complaints filed with the Election Complaints Bureau, the Human Rights Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission often fail to produce results because of these legal loopholes.
Additionally, Hassan noted reports that some island councils are imposing rules to restrict where individual candidates can campaign, raising further concerns.
Calling for reform, he stressed the need to amend electoral laws to reflect current realities and enable effective investigative action.
The Election Commission has announced that local council elections will be held on April 4. Political parties have already announced their candidates, and official campaign activities are now underway.
Speaking on Raajje TV, EC member Hassan Zakaria said the commission has observed candidates exploiting legal loopholes to sway votes, highlighting serious challenges faced by election authorities and law enforcement.
He noted that while offering gifts in exchange for votes is a criminal offence, such practices are now being carried out through transactions that appear legally valid. As an example, Hassan cited cases where candidates rent rooms in a household at inflated prices to accommodate campaign teams, allegedly in exchange for securing votes from family members.
“For instance, renting four rooms at MVR 500 per day for three months could earn a family around MVR 100,000,” he said, adding that candidates often justify such arrangements as legitimate campaign-related expenses.
Hassan acknowledged that although these practices are widely understood to undermine free and fair elections, they are difficult to curb due to weaknesses in existing legislation. He said electoral laws drafted two decades ago are no longer adequate to address modern campaigning tactics, and the legal basis for investigations based on suspicion remains weak.
He also said complaints filed with the Election Complaints Bureau, the Human Rights Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission often fail to produce results because of these legal loopholes.
Additionally, Hassan noted reports that some island councils are imposing rules to restrict where individual candidates can campaign, raising further concerns.
Calling for reform, he stressed the need to amend electoral laws to reflect current realities and enable effective investigative action.
The Election Commission has announced that local council elections will be held on April 4. Political parties have already announced their candidates, and official campaign activities are now underway.
