The Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has stated that the Faresmaathoda Constituency by-election will not be held if the 2024 parliamentary election is scheduled for April.
The Constitution states that a new Member of Parliament shall be elected to fill a seat within fifty days from the date of vacancy. However, the Constitution also states that a member shall not be elected to a vacant seat if there is a period of six months or less between the date of vacancy and the next parliamentary election.
The Faresmaathoda Constituency seat will become vacant once Hussain Mohamed Latheef is sworn in as Vice President on November 17. There is a five-month period between the date of the inauguration of the Vice President-elect and the date of the parliamentary elections as ECM plans to hold the parliamentary election in April. However, the Faresmaathoda by-election will be held in April instead if any circumstances arise to postpone the parliamentary election.