The Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has projected that the nomination period for the upcoming Local Council Elections will open in March 2026, with voting scheduled to take place the following month.
The timeline was affirmed by Abdul Rahman Salah Rasheed, vice president of the ECM, in an interview with PSM News. He noted that, under statutory requirements, elections must be held no later than 45 days before the expiration of existing council terms, placing the candidacy window firmly within March.
The timeline has shaped the commission's preparations, with Rasheed stating that officials are working to finalise electoral boundary demarcations and complete a nationwide population count to determine the number of councillors allotted to each constituency. The commission, he said, is also identifying venues that will accommodate key stages of the polling process.
Representation on island councils is governed by population thresholds set out in the Local Council Elections Act. Islands with fewer than 3,000 registered residents are entitled to three councillors, while those with 3,000 or more may elect five.
In accordance with regulatory provisions, the commission is required to formally announce the opening of the candidacy period within 15 days of reaching the 120-day threshold preceding the expiration of current council terms. Candidates will be required to submit a deposit of approximately USD 97.29. Those seeking to contest independently, without a party endorsement, must also collect 50 supporting signatures from their electoral district.