The Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has revealed that a lower number of new voters will be eligible for the upcoming presidential election.
The statistics from ECM show that 283,272 individuals are eligible to vote in the upcoming presidential election, which includes 21,137 new voters. The number is lower compared to the 22,970 new voters in the 2018 presidential election. In addition, 58% of the voters for the upcoming election are registered to political parties and 42% are independents.
Regarding the statistics, Vice President of ECM Ismail Habeeb said the numbers are subject to change, especially the number of party members, as the data was last collected on February 21. Individuals unknowingly being registered to parties is also a prevailing issue.
The presidential election will be held on September 9 and ECM will be accepting candidacies until the end of July 23. Currently, five individuals have announced their intention to run in the election. They include President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who won the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) primary election, and the candidate of the main opposition coalition former President Abdulla Yameen, who is serving a five-year prison sentence over corruption and money laundering.
Additionally, President of Maldives National Party (MNP) Mohamed Nazim has received the party ticket uncontested while former Minister of Home Affairs Umar Naseer, and former Attorney General Dr. Mohamed Munawar recently announced their intentions to run in the election.