MDP's former President and Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed has cast his vote in the presidential election.

Nasheed cast his vote in a box kept at Iskandar School.

Speaking to reporters after casting his vote, he said this is an important ballot paper and I am hopeful of doing well in the elections.

"It is very prudent that everyone has to decide on the voting process," he added.

MNP presidential candidate Mohamed Nazim, PNC presidential candidate Dr Mohamed Muiz, Jumhooree Party presidential candidate Qasim Ibrahim, The Democrats presidential candidate Ilyas Labeeb and independent candidates Umar Naseer and Hassan Jameel also cast their votes.

According to the latest data released by the Election Commission( EC), over 12.81 per cent voters have cast their votes so far. A total of 2,82,395 voters, including over 27,000 new voters, have been set up at home and abroad this time to cast their votes.

Voting began at 8 am and boxes without queues will be closed at 4 pm, but if there is a queue near the box to cast their votes, the queue will be closed from 4 pm onwards and the ballot box will be closed only after the voting is over, after which counting of votes will begin after 30 minutes of closing the box, the election commission said.

Election Commission has advised people to cast their votes and complete the voting process quickly.

As soon as the voting process is completed after 6 pm and the ballot boxes are counted, the results will be declared.