Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM) reveals it will use a single ballot paper in voting for all positions in the upcoming local council elections.
Vice President of ECM Ahmed Akram said a single ballot paper will be used to elect island council members, president of island councils and atoll councillors, adding one ballot paper will also be used to elect city council members and mayors. However, members for women’s development committees will be elected using a different ballot paper.
Previously, ECM decided to use different ballot papers to elect all positions. However, the decision was revoked mainly as different ballot papers increase the cost significantly. Akram said the change was made to ease the vote counting process, as a single ballot paper for all elections will increase the vote counting speed.
ECM said 980 councillors will be elected in the upcoming local council elections. Additionally, 179 island council presidents and 18 atoll councillors will also be elected, while the four cities will elect mayors to the city councils.
ECM has scheduled to conduct the local council elections on April 4.