The Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has begun accepting applications for individuals to re-register their voting location for the Guraidhoo Constituency by-election to be held on April 15.
ECM said voters are required to submit their re-registration application by March 30. Residents of Guraidhoo, Maafushi, and Gulhi in Kaafu Atoll will be allowed to re-register their voting location. Voters can submit their applications online via the re-registration portal or by visiting the main ECM building.
The candidates contesting the vacant Guraidhoo Constituency Parliament seat include Ibrahim Shaz, who received the main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) ticket, and Ali Areef who received the Maldives National Party (MNP) ticket. The main opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) awarded its ticket to Hussain Riza, the younger brother of the late Parliamentarian Ibrahim Riza who filled the seat for three terms.
The Guraidhoo seat became vacant after Parliamentarian Riza passed away on February 23 while undergoing treatment for cancer in Malaysia. Riza, who represented the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), was one of the longest-serving parliamentarians.
It is the second time a by-election is being held during the current parliamentary term. The first by-election was held after the death of Parliamentarian Hussain Waheed.