Members of the Joint Services turned out this morning to cast their ballots as part of the early voting process, with President Irfaan Ali describing the exercise as smooth and efficient.
Speaking to reporters after visiting a polling location, the President said he was satisfied with the arrangements in place. “From what I have seen, it’s a very smooth process, very efficient process,” he stated. He also pointed to the notices posted inside polling stations reminding voters about the secrecy of the ballot.
President Ali noted that while voting had only just begun, reports indicated that the opening of polls went according to plan. “We have not really had an assessment around the country, but from this morning, the opening of polls… things would have gone smoothly so far and we are expecting it to stay this way,” he said.
The Head of State emphasized the presence of observers and party agents at the polling places, adding that their involvement contributes to the credibility of the process.
When asked about the average time it should take for a voter to cast a ballot, President Ali estimated that based on past experience, the process could take two to three minutes. However, he noted that his own attention was focused on observing procedures, including how presiding officers verified identification numbers and called them out, rather than on the turnaround time of individual voters.
The Joint Services vote traditionally precedes the General and Regional Elections, allowing military and police personnel to carry out their duties on Election Day while ensuring their participation in the democratic process.
