The Election Commission of Maldives (ECM) has opened the opportunity to submit complaints to the the voters list as it rushes to meet the deadline to hold the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission (MMBC) on 11 October.
According to ECM, a total of 353 media outlets are eligible to cast their votes, comprising 18 broadcasters and 335 other registered media entities, each nominating one representative to participate in separate voting processes for broadcasters and other media categories.
ECM has released the preliminary list of eligible media outlets, initiating a brief window for complaints until 3:00 PM on Monday. This expedited timeline, according to ECM’s Assistant Director Vishah Saeed, is a direct consequence of legal stipulations requiring the elections to be held within 30 days of the law's ratification on 18 September.
"We have to hold the election by 17 October," Vishah told PSM News, emphasising the ECM's commitment to adhering to the schedule while providing the longest possible complaint deadline under the circumstances.
Vishah urged media outlets to pay close attention to the short deadlines and called on prospective candidates for the MMBC to promptly clear their judicial and criminal records, obtain necessary information from state institutions, and submit their application forms.
The opportunity to contest the MMBC election is open until 2:00 PM on Saturday. The election will see two of the four commission members elected from among broadcasters, with the remaining two members chosen from other media outlets.