Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM) has closed opportunity for the candidates to withdraw their candidacies from parliamentary elections.
Speaking to PSM News, spokesperson and member of ECM Ahmed Akram announced after March 19, candidates contesting for parliamentary elections will no longer be allowed to withdraw their names. The candidacy withdrawal was closed as process of printing the ballot papers are underway, according to Akram.
M7 Print Private Limited and Novelty Printers and Publishers Private Limited expressed interest to print ballot papers for the upcoming elections. The contract to print the ballot papers was granted to M7 Print, the same company which printed the ballot papers for the last presidential election held in September 2018.
A total of 389 candidates applied to contest for the upcoming parliamentary election. However, the candidates decreased to 386 following the candidacy withdrawal from 3 candidates.