Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has published the preliminary report on the designation of constituencies for the 2024 parliamentary election.
The report was formulated in accordance with Article 72 of the Constitution of the Maldives and Article 9 and 10 of the Parliamentary Elections Act. The report shows that candidates 93 seats have been allocated for the next parliamentary election, which is an increase of six seats in the current 87-seat parliament.
The allocation of seats is determined by two policies. The first policy mandates the election of members to represent either the initial 5,000 registered residents in a constituency or a constituency with less than 5,000 registered residents. The second policy requires the election of a member to represent any additional registered residents beyond the initial 5,000, provided that the remaining residents also reach the 5,000 registered residents threshold.
The names of the consistencies were chosen based on the island with the largest population in a constituency as of May 31. If an island has more than one constituency, the names were given according to which direction on the island the constituency is located.
The new parliamentary seats include Central Henveiru and North Hulhumale' constituencies in Male' City and North Feydhoo Constituency in Addu City which represents Feydhoo and Maradhoo-Feydhoo. The seats also include Hithaadhoo Constituency in Baa Atoll which represents Hithaadhoo, Maalhos, and Dharavandhoo, as well as Huraa Constituency in Kaafu Atoll which represents Huraa, Himmafushi, and Gulhi. The seats further consist of Kolamaafushi Constituency in Gaafu Alifu Atoll which represents Kolamaafushi and Dhevvadhoo.
ECM stated that that with the changes, Eydhafushi, Villingili, and Meedhoo constituencies will only represent the residents of the respective islands. The names of other existing consistencies have also been changes, including Hulhumale' Constituency to South Hulhumale' Constituency, Guraidhoo Constituency to Maafushi Constituency, Guraidhoo (Thaa Atoll) Constituency to Guraidhoo Constituency, and Feydhoo Constituency to South Feydhoo Constituency.
Complaints regarding the preliminary report can be submitted by 1500hrs on October 19.