Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM) has stated re-registration for the upcoming local council elections will be open from February 13 to 17.
Voters are required to re-register for the local council elections only if they are planning to vote in a different location from where they voted during the parliamentary elections last year, according to ECM.
Speaking to PSM News, member of ECM Fuwad Thaufeeq said the first local council election to be held under the amendments brought to the Decentralisation Act is expected to present many administrative difficulties. However, he said ECM has been preparing well for the elections.
Fuwad noted all electoral constituencies set for the local council elections and the elections of the women's development committees have been published in the government gazette and the website of ECM, with the exception of Kulhudhuffushi which was granted city status on January 1.
Fuwad said ECM plans to conduct ballots in Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, Singapore and the UK, similar to the parliamentary elections last year. However, Fuwad said ballots will only be conducted in these countries if a minimum of 150 individuals register to vote. He said individuals who voted in resorts or foreign countries during the parliamentary elections must re-register to vote in the local council elections.
Application to contest in the local council elections will be open on February 4. The elections is set to be held on April 4, while the official results of the election will be announced on April 12. If a runoff round of the elections becomes necessary, it will be held on April 18.