Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has stated that six new constituencies will be added for the next parliamentary election.
The Constitution dictates that a parliamentary representative be elected for each administrative division with 5,000 registered residents. ECM stated that it is making efforts to prepare for both the presidential election this year and the parliamentary election next year.
ECM approved the changes to the constituencies for the 2024 parliamentary election during its last meeting. As per the changes, two seats will be added for Male' City, one seat for Addu City, one seat for Baa Atoll, one seat for Kaafu Atoll, and one seat for Gaafu Alifu Atoll.
The General Elections Act requires ECM to announce the changes to the constituencies and populations of administrative divisions 10 months before the expiry of the current parliamentary term. ECM stated that it is working to publish the report by August 28 and that the final report will be published in December.
The current term of the Parliament expires on May 30 next year. The increase in the number of members of the Parliament is a matter of public concern. There are 87 members in the 19th Parliament, which has been unable to resolve the issue. The increase in parliamentary constituencies can only be solved with Constitutional amendments.