18 hopefuls file candidacy for Majlis elections; four days left until deadline

The Elections Commission (EC) reports that only 18 candidates have filed their candidacy so far for the upcoming parliamentary elections, with just four days left until the deadline.

The parliamentary elections was originally scheduled for March 17 – which falls within the first week of Ramadan. However, a parliamentary committee passed legislature last week to ban national elections in Ramadan.

According to the proposed amendment to the General Elections Act, if an election date falls within Ramadan, the election must be held 10 days after Ramadan ends.

The EC has yet to announce the new election date.

In a post on X on Saturday morning, Ismail Habeeb, the vice chairperson of the EC, said the commission will not extend candidacy despite the change to election date.

The candidacy window closes on Wednesday.

“The EC has so far received 18 application forms. Yesterday, we received a form from a PNC candidate and two independents. The EC accepted all three forms,” said Habeeb.

Habeeb warned that waiting until the last minute could deny candidates time to correct possible mistakes on their forms.

Candidacy forms will be accepted from the Rannabandeyri Hall in Dharubaaruge from 09:00 am to 02:00 pm on workdays and Saturdays.

The upcoming elections will see Maldivians elect parliamentary representatives to 93 electoral districts.