Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM) has opened the opportunity to submit nominations for the upcoming local council and women’s development committee elections.
The Election Commission said the local council and women’s development committee elections will be held on Saturday, 4 April, from 08:00hrs to 16:00hrs. Nominations for both elections opened today and will close on 1 February at 15:30hrs.
The Commission said nomination forms may be submitted only during official hours. Applications will be accepted from 08:30hrs to 15:30hrs on all days except Sundays. On Sundays, applications will be accepted from 15:30hrs to 18:00hrs.
Unlike previous elections, all nomination forms must be submitted online. Candidates contesting the local council and women’s development committee elections are required to upload all necessary documents and pay administrative fees through the Commission’s main portal, my.elections.gov.mv. The Election Commission will also issue decisions on applications and related notices through the same portal.
The Election Commission said elections will be held in 225 council constituencies. A total of 678 members will be elected to local councils and 678 members to women’s development committees, bringing the total number of elected members to 1,356.
According to the voters’ list released by the Commission, 294,937 voters are eligible to vote in the council elections. This includes 144,527 women and 150,410 men.
The Commission said 321 polling stations will be established across the atolls. A further 240 polling stations will be set up in Malé, Hulhumalé and Villingili for voters from Kulhudhuffushi, Fuvahmulah City, Thinadhoo City and Addu City.
In addition, three polling stations will be established in industrial islands, five polling stations in prisons, and 50 polling stations in resorts. Two overseas ballot boxes will also be placed for the council elections, one in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and another in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The Election Commission said the April 4 elections will be conducted in a highly digitised manner, particularly in administrative processes, with arrangements made for candidates to submit nomination forms electronically.
According to the Commission’s permanent constituency determination report, 626 councillors will be elected to island councils and 52 councillors to city councils.
Of the 133 island councils, some will elect three councillors, including a council president and one female member, while 46 island councils will elect five councillors, including a council president and two female councillors. The number of members elected to women’s development committees will match the number elected to island and city councils.