Voting is underway in the by-election to fill the vacant North Hithadhoo constituency seat in Parliament.

Polling stations opened at 8:00 a.m. and will remain open until 4:00 p.m. Seven ballot boxes have been placed for the election, including five at Hithadhoo School in Addu City and two at Dharumavantha School in Malé.

A total of 4,121 eligible voters are registered to cast their ballots in the constituency.

The election is being contested by ruling People's National Congress (PNC) candidate Ahmed Saeed, a former Addu City Council member, and opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) candidate Abdulla Sodiq, the former Mayor of Addu City.

The seat became vacant following a Supreme Court ruling that former MP Mohamed Sinan no longer met the qualifications required to remain in Parliament after a debt against him was confirmed.

Saeed secured the PNC nomination after Sinan withdrew from the party's primary race. Sinan later endorsed Saeed and actively participated in his campaign.