The Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) is preparing to accept applications from international observers and monitors that will be present for the upcoming parliamentary election.
ECM will be accepting application forms from January 30 to February 16. The electoral body has extended invitations to international organisations and other foreign entities. ECM stated that observers must be at least 18 years old and should refrain from engaging in any campaigning for candidates.
Vice President of ECM Ismail Habeeb said that the commission extended invitations to 20 individuals from 10 countries to observe the upcoming parliamentary election. He mentioned the commission's efforts to provide opportunities for 10 individuals from five associations. He also said that the commission had invited 15 countries to observe the presidential election last year.
The parliamentary election is scheduled to take place on March 17. ECM has announced the opening for candidate nominations from January 31 to February 14, and numbers will be assigned to the names on February 16.
ECM stated that a total of 284,327 individuals are eligible to vote in the parliamentary elections. The amount is 1,523 more than the number of eligible voters in the previous year's presidential election, where 282,804 individuals were deemed eligible during the second round. Each ballot box will be allowed a maximum of 600 ballots. The window for submitting complaints regarding the list of eligible voters will be open until January 21.