Voter turnout in Saturday’s nationwide elections reached 73 per cent, marking the highest level of participation recorded in Local Council elections.

The polls, held across the Maldives, included three separate voting processes: Local Council elections, Women’s Development Committee (WDC) elections, and a public referendum seeking public opinion on whether presidential and parliamentary elections should be held on the same day.

A total of 253,714 people were eligible to vote, of whom 214,898 cast their ballots, representing a turnout of 73 per cent.

Turnout in previous Local Council elections stood at 70 per cent in 2011, 65 per cent in 2014, 66 per cent in 2017, and 68 per cent in 2021, highlighting a notable increase in voter participation this year.

Preliminary results indicate that the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) secured a significant number of council seats and council president positions across many islands. The party also won a large share of seats and leadership positions in Women’s Development Committees.

Meanwhile, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) secured several city mayoral positions and a notable number of seats in city councils.