The Elections Commission has announced that 588 ballot boxes will be placed for voting in the upcoming Local Council and Women’s Development Committee (WDC) elections.

As in previous elections, the highest number of ballot boxes will be placed in the atolls. Of the 588 ballot boxes, 180 will be located in Malé City, 51 in Hulhumalé and nine in Vilimalé. A further 322 ballot boxes will be placed across the atolls, while 21 will be allocated to resorts and five to prisons.

Within the Greater Malé area, 98 ballot boxes have been allocated for Malé residents, while 142 ballot boxes are designated for voters registered in the atolls and cities.

Among the atolls, the highest number of ballot boxes will be placed in Addu City with 29 boxes, followed by Raa Atoll with 25 and Haa Alifu Atoll with 23 ballot boxes.

The Commission stated that no ballot boxes will be placed abroad or in industrial islands, as the required number of registered voters was not met in those locations.

The April 4 elections will include Local Council elections, Women’s Development Committee elections and a public referendum to gather citizens’ views on holding presidential and parliamentary elections concurrently.