Voting has begun for the 2023 presidential election.
Polling stations opened in Male' and the atolls at 0800hrs and will close at 1600hrs. Voters began queuing up at the polling stations at around 0730hrs and the security envelopes were opened in the presence of the first two voters at the polling stations.
The polling stations will close at 1600hrs if there are no more voters left in the queue, and officials will begin counting the ballots 30 minutes after closing the polling stations. The Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has advised citizens to exercise their right to vote as early as possible.
The election marks a significant milestone as it witnesses the largest number of candidates vying for the presidency since the inception of the multi-party system. As such, eight candidates are contesting the presidential election, including five candidates from parties and three independent candidates.
A total of 574 ballot boxes have been set up in the Maldives and five other countries for this year's presidential election. The eligible voting population for the presidential election is 282,395, including over 27,000 new voters. Polling stations are also open in 65 resorts and five prisons.
Over 5,000 election officials are active during the election, along with 1,700 observers and monitors. Officials with ECM passes are allowed to vote without having to wait in queue, as well as uniformed public service workers, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with disabilities.
Police officers, equipped with body-worn cameras, are active at all polling stations in order to maintain security and guarantee the rights of voters as part of Operation Blue Wave.