The Elections Commission of Maldives has commenced the official verification of the national voter registry in preparation for the upcoming Local Council and Women’s Development Committee elections scheduled for April 4.
On Tuesday, political candidates and their authorised representatives began the formal process of validating the electoral roll—an essential step to ensure transparency and accuracy in the voting system. The commission confirmed that the signing and verification of the final voter list will continue until Thursday.
To support the process, a dedicated election centre is operating daily from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., along with an additional evening session from 9:30 p.m. to midnight, allowing ample time for candidates and representatives to complete the necessary procedures.
Voters across the country will cast ballots in three categories: local council representatives, Women’s Development Committee members, and a public referendum. According to official figures, the electorate consists of 294,876 eligible voters, including 150,370 men and 144,506 women.
Strict guidelines have been introduced for representatives acting on behalf of candidates. Proxies must present a valid original identification card along with a signed authorisation letter from the candidate. This letter must include the representative’s full name, permanent address, and national ID number, as well as a copy of the candidate’s identification.
The number of candidates has decreased since the initial submission phase, which saw 2,994 applicants. Since then, 67 candidates have withdrawn, while 82 candidates have already secured uncontested victories in their respective constituencies. As a result, a total of 2,845 candidates will now compete in the nationwide elections next month.
