Run-off votes need to be held for two island councils due to candidates that had contested in last Saturday’s local council elections having tied, the Elections Commission said.

The commission said that run-off votes are required for Komandhoo Island Shaviyani Atoll and Kurimbi Island in Haa Dhaal Atoll.

Out of the six candidates contesting the three-seat council in Komandhoo, the ruling party candidate who had acquired the most votes – at 568 – and the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) candidate that had acquired 556 votes have been elected.

Two candidates had tied in at the third position, and the two opposition party candidates had acquired 518 votes.

For Kurimbi Island, which also has a three-member council, three candidates had tied in at the third position -  a candidate from the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives and two from MDP. They had all acquired 218 votes.

Two candidates from the ruling party had acquired most votes and their seats have been guaranteed – with 242 votes and 229 votes,

The commission is yet to announce a date for the run-off round.