The Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has announced that individuals who re-registered to vote in the previous local council elections will not need to go through the re-registration process again for the upcoming presidential elections.
During a meeting with the National Advisory Committee on Elections, political parties, and various institutions, the ECM received requests to streamline the re-registration procedure. The ECM determined that individuals who vote outside of their hometowns would be required to re-register. However, considering the recommendations of committee members and political parties, the ECM decided to maintain the existing list of re-registered persons from the Local Council Election 2020.
In an interview with PSM News, Vice President of ECM, Ismail Habeeb, explained that many individuals from the islands are currently traveling to Male' City for various reasons. Therefore, the decision was made to prevent a reduction in the number of eligible voters, taking into account suggestions provided by political parties. However, Habeeb mentioned that voters would still need to re-register if they reside on islands other than their home islands.
The re-registration period for the presidential election will be open from July 16 to August 5. To enhance convenience and accessibility, the ECM has also introduced online re-registration. This decision was made to facilitate an easier registration process for the general public. Re-registration can also be completed through physical forms. The deadline for online re-registration is July 29, while physical forms can be submitted until August 5.
According to the ECM, the eligible voting population for the presidential election amounts to 282,755 voters, consisting of 144,408 males and 138,347 females. The presidential election is scheduled to take place on September 9, with a potential second round on September 30.