The Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has revealed that USD239,000 was spent to hold by-elections in the two years after holding the local council and women’s development committee (WDC) elections. The electoral body had mostly held by-elections for WDCs.
Speaking to PSM News, President of ECM Fuad Thaufeeq said 23 by-elections have been held for local councils and WDCs, of which seven were held last year and cost USD103,000. He also said USD175,000 has been spent to hold 16 by-elections as of August this year.
ECM has expressed concern over having to hold back-to-back by-elections for local councils and WDCs. The Decentralisation Act states that by-elections are to be held within 60 days of a local council or a WDC member filing their resignation. In order to solve the issue, an amendment has been proposed to the Decentralisation Act to hold the local council elections and WDC elections once per year. The amendment proposes to allow the ECM to hold an election within 365 days and states that by-elections should be held within 300-365 days from each other.
Additionally, Parliamentarian Rozaina Adam earlier proposed an amendment to the Decentralisation Act to hold by-elections for WDCs on the same date each year. The proposed amendment to the Decentralisation Act states that WDC elections are to be held by the representative atoll council with instructions from the ECM. It also states the by-elections are to be held on the same date each year if there are no issues related to the lack of quorum at WDC meetings. ECM stated the amendments will significantly reduce the state expenditure on holding back-to-back elections.