Maldives Presidential Polls 2023

This year's Presidential Election will see more than 9,000 monitors and observers.

As such, 4,545 applications were submitted by Maldivian media outlets for monitors and 3,607 applications were submitted by political parties, civil societies and independent candidates for the position of observers.

In addition to this 1,735 application were received for candidate appointed representatives.

EC disclosed that 548 applications were received by People's National Congress (PMC) for candidate appointed representatives, 458 applications were received by Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), 271 applications were received by Maldives National Party (MNP), 241 applications were received by The Democrats and 217 applications were received by Jumhooree Party (JP).

Voters will be allowed to queue up from 7:30am onwards, according to the Elections Commission. Polling will begin at 8am. Voting will continue till 4pm and counting of votes will begin at 4:30pm.

Voters will have to cast their ballots using black or blue in, during the upcoming presidential election, says the Elections Commission of Maldives. Election regulations and laws stipulate that voters can only carry ordinary pens with them, when going to cast their votes at polling stations. The commission has decided that only a pen with black or blue ink can be deemed an “ordinary pen”.

Highlighting that a pen will be placed at polling stations, Habeeb noted that even though voters will be allowed to carry their own black or blue-inked pens to cast their ballots, it would be wiser to use the pens placed at the polling booths.

Stating that officials at polling stations will not accept pens with ink of any other color, Habeeb said that ballot papers with more than one check mark or scribblings and doodles will be marked invalid.

Further, Habeeb stressed that the commission believes there should be no compulsion on voters, and they should be able to cast their votes for the person they see fit, on their own free will.

Polling will be held from 8am to 4pm and this is the greatest number of candidates observed in a presidential election so far in the country’s history.

Vice President of the Election Commission (EC) Ismail Habeeb has urged people to file complaints immediately when something happens that require the filing of a complaint, instead of filing complaints when the results of this year's presidential elections start coming out.

Habeeb added that a complaint filing system has been established.

A complaints bureau has been set up in every atoll and city, with a national complaints’ bureau being set up in Malé City.

Habeeb urged the public to submit any violations of law and order, on the polling day as soon as possible, with proof. He said that if something happens in an election center, it will be submitted to the head of the center. By then, those in charge of the polling stations will try to resolve the issue. When a complaint is filed later, it would not be visible even in the court process.

Vice President of the Election Commission Ismail Habeeb has highlighted that the Election Commission (EC) is fully prepared for this year's presidential elections and that all the required preparations have been completed.

Speaking to press on Friday evening, Habeeb revealed that the commission needs the cooperation of political parties, candidates and the public to ensure free and fair conduct of the polls.

Habeeb urged all parties to ensure that the entire election process goes on peacefully.

He added that it was important to check the polling booth in advance and pushed the public to check the information by sending an SMS to 1414 before going to cast votes. The people can cast their votes if they carry an official ID card, passport or a driving license that is not expired, to indicate who they are.

Habeeb noted that polling will begin at 8am across all polling stations and will be open for queues at 7:30am. Habib said voting will not start at 8am in London. Voting in London will begin at 12pm.

He stated that the vote counting process will begin 30 minutes after polling stations close for voting, and even if everyone in the register casts their votes before 4pm, the counting of votes in that box will start at 4:30pm.

Habeeb said that the provisional results are expected to be declared by 5:30pm.

Habeeb also urged the public not to indulge in anything that could interfere in the election process.

Check where your constituency's ballot box is located by sending an SMS to 1414, enter VR (space) ID card number.

Maldivians will go to the polls for the presidential elections on Saturday morning.

With 282,395 eligible voters, 574 ballot boxes are to be placed across the country and abroad- two in Sri Lanka, three in Malaysia and one each in India, Abu Dhabi and the United Kingdom. There are eight candidates competing, including five from major political parties and three independent candidates. Running for presidency this year are the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s candidate, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih aspiring to be re-elected for a second term, candidate of the People’s National Congress (PNC) Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, Ilyas Labeeb from The Democrats, Jumhooree Party’s Gasim Ibrahim and Mohamed Nazim running through Maldives National Party (MNP). The independent candidates vying for presidency are Ahmed Faris Maumoon, Umar Naseer and Hassan Zameel.

While the provisional results are expected to come on Saturday itself, final results are to be announced a at a later date. Political parties are not allowed to conduct campaign activities from 6pm Friday.

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