The Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) HAS announced that an additional 560 individuals will now be eligible to cast their votes in the upcoming parliamentary election.
In a post on X, Vice President of ECM Ismail Habeeb cited the rescheduling of the parliamentary election date to March. He said that the decision to postpone the election stemmed from the recent amendment to the Elections General Act, ratified by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.
Originally slated for March 17, the parliamentary election date was pushed forward due to the approval of the Fifth Amendment to the Elections General Act. As such, the ECM has confirmed April 21 as the new election date, with voting hours scheduled from 0800hrs to 1600hrs. Vote counting will commence immediately after the close of polls, with final results expected to be announced on April 28.
Additionally, Habeeb revealed that the total number of eligible voters for the election has surged to 284,887, including the newly added 560 individuals. He also disclosed plans for a three-day window for re-registration to vote, providing a second opportunity for eligible individuals.
ECM has decided not to establish polling stations in certain countries and resorts due to low initial registration numbers. Among the foreign locations, polling stations will only be set up in Malaysia and Sri Lanka. However, adjustments to the number of ballot boxes are anticipated once re-registration opens again.