MALÉ, Maldives – The Elections Commission (EC) of the Maldives has officially opened nominations for the upcoming Local Council Elections and Women’s Development Committee (WDC) Elections. Candidates are required to submit their applications exclusively online via the EC’s dedicated portal. The elections are scheduled to take place on Saturday, 4th April, from 08:00 to 16:00.

The nomination period commenced today and will conclude on 1st February, with the deadline for submissions set at 15:30 on the final day. This election introduces a significant procedural change, with all candidate submissions and administrative communications being managed through digital platforms.

Nomination Procedures and Timings

Prospective candidates may submit their forms during specified hours. Submissions will be accepted daily, with the exception of Fridays, from 08:30 to 15:30. On Fridays, the submission window is from 15:30 to 18:00.

All necessary documentation and administrative fees must be submitted via the Elections Commission’s main portal, my.elections.gov.mv. The EC will also utilise this portal for all official communications regarding nomination decisions and other candidate-related announcements.

Electoral Scope and Representation

A total of 1,356 members are to be elected across 225 council constituencies. This includes 678 members for Local Councils and an equal number of 678 members for the Women’s Development Committees.

According to the EC’s permanent report on electoral constituency delimitation, 626 councillors will be elected for island councils, and 52 for city councils. Specifically, 133 island councils will elect three councillors (comprising the council president and one female member), while 46 island councils will elect five councillors (including the council president and two female councillors).

Voter Demographics and Ballot Box Distribution

The voter’s list released by the EC indicates that 294,937 individuals are eligible to cast their votes in the forthcoming council elections. This electorate consists of 144,527 women and 150,410 men.

For the elections, 321 ballot boxes will be positioned across various islands in the atolls. An additional 240 ballot boxes will be established in Malé, Hulhumalé, and ViliMalé to accommodate residents from other atolls living in the capital region, as well as voters from Kulhudhuffushi City, Fuvahmulah City, Thinadhoo City, and Addu City.

Further arrangements include the placement of three ballot boxes in industrial areas, five in prisons, and 50 in resorts. Internationally, two ballot boxes will be available: one in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and another in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Commitment to Digitalisation

The EC has affirmed that this election represents a notable departure from previous years through its extensive digitalisation of administrative processes. From the management of voter lists to the submission of candidate forms, the EC has implemented digital and online systems to enhance the efficiency and accessibility of electoral procedures.

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