Vote counting has begun in the North Hithadhoo constituency by-election following the close of polling stations on Saturday.

A total of 4,121 voters were eligible to cast ballots in the election, including 2,073 women and 2,048 men. According to election officials, counting of ballot papers began at around 5:30 p.m. in Addu City and at 5:40 p.m. in Malé after ballot boxes were sealed and transported for counting.

Voting commenced at 8:00 a.m. and was originally scheduled to conclude at 4:00 p.m. However, the Elections Commission extended polling until 5:00 p.m. due to long queues at several polling stations. Voters who had joined the queue before the deadline were allowed to cast their ballots before polling officially closed.

Seven ballot boxes were placed for the by-election, including two in Malé and five in Addu City. The election is being contested by Progressive National Congress (PNC) candidate and former Addu City councillor Ahmed Saeed, and Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) candidate and former Addu City mayor Abdulla Sodhiq.