The Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has stated that the final date for the presidential election will be announced on January 15. The electoral body stated that the election will be held on September 2 or 9.
President of ECM Fuad Thaufeeq said preparations are being made to hold the election and that the electoral body is currently focused on completing the administrative tasks. He said that it is preparing to provide the necessary training and procuring the necessary documents and resources.
Additionally, Fuad said that ECM will become more efficient once an electoral headquarters is established, as the old Jamaluddin School building which housed the electoral headquarters was vacated for the construction of the new Arabiyya School building. He said the government has assured that a new electoral headquarters will be opened at the Dhivehi Raajjeyge Adu (DRA) building on January 15.
The eligible voting population for the presidential election is over 280,000 voters, which is a 10% increase compared to the 260,000 eligible voters in the 2018 election. This year’s election will include 20,000 newly eligible voters but the list of voters will be finalised near the election date after the Department of National Registration (DNR) publishes its statistics. ECM stated that voters will be able to re-register their voting location in July.
ECM stated that over 800 ballot boxes will be placed for the election and that discussions are underway to determine the voting locations, including in resorts and other countries. Ballot boxes will be placed in resorts with over 50 registered voters and in other countries with over 150 voters. Ballot boxes will also be placed in prisons with over 25 voters. Each ballot box will accept a maximum of 800 ballots, and more ballot boxes will be placed in locations with more than 800 voters. Around 8,000 officials will be active during the election.
The main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) will be choosing its presidential candidate after the primary election on January 28. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed are contesting in the primary election.
The opposition coalition of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC) gave their ticket to former President Abdulla Yameen. The coalition has assured that Yameen will be contesting in the presidential election, despite him serving an 11-year prison sentence issued in December.
Other candidates include the President of the Maldives National Party (MNP) Mohamed Nazim and the President of Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) Ahmed Siyam. Former Minister of Home Affairs Umar Naseer has also announced the intention to run for office.