Maldives Aid urges citizens to 'Go vote'

Maldives Aid, as part of the Civil Society Network of the Maldives, today launched a new campaign in the capital Malé to urge citizens to vote in the country's first multi-party elections, expected in the coming months.

The 'Go Vote' campaign kicked off in Malé with a press conference introduced by Mariyam Seena, Co-ordinator of Maldives Aid. The conference included a keynote speech from Dr Peter Hayes, British High Commissioner to the Maldives, who gave his full support for the campaign and reform process in general. Questions from the press were answered by representatives of participating NGOs.[pictured above]

The campaign, which will last until the week before the presidential election, promotes voter awareness through a series of forums and music concerts, posters, TV and radio programs, and the dissemination of voter education booklets. It targets traditionally low turn-out groups such as women and young people in order to ensure the population of the Maldives participates as fully as possible on polling day.

The campaign will also travel to remote islands to verify the voter registry and educate islanders about democracy and the importance of engaging with their country's political future.

Source: http://www.maldivesaid.org