The Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has emphasised the need to increase public awareness ahead of the upcoming referendum on merging the presidential and parliamentary elections.
A proposed constitutional amendment would allow both elections to be conducted concurrently and stipulates the commencement date of the term of the Parliament. The bill was passed by the Parliament on 10 February 2026 at the second sitting of its first session for 2026.
The Local Council Elections and Women’s Development Committee (WDC) elections are slated for 4 April. Together with the elections, a nation-wide referendum vote will be held the same day to seek public opinion on conducting the presidential and parliamentary election simultaneously.
Speaking on PSM News’ Raajje Miadhu programme, ECM Member Hassan Zakariyya said public needs to be well informed before the referendum takes place. He noted that although the council elections, WDC elections, and the referendum will take place on the same day, the voting procedure will remain largely unchanged. However, a separate ballot paper will be issued for the referendum.
Explaining the difference between a standard election and a referendum, Zakariyya said while contested elections ask to vote for a preferred candidate, the referendum ballot paper will present a yes/no question asked by the President seeking public opinion on the matter.
The referendum will ask voters whether they approve the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution, which proposes holding the presidential and parliamentary elections together, and defining the rules for calculating parliamentary term age. The question on the ballot paper will read: “Do you approve the ratification of the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution, which provides for the Presidential and People’s Majlis elections to be held concurrently and for a change to the term of the People’s Majlis?”
Zakariyya stressed that voters must be familiar with the question and the related constitutional implications ahead of the vote. He said the ECM, political parties as well as civil organisations have an important role in ensuring the public is informed.
The EC decided to conduct the referendum alongside the Local Council Elections and the WDC elections as doing so would significantly reduce costs compared to conducting the referendum separately.