Elections Commission President Mohamed Zahid has confirmed that preparations are actively underway to conduct the upcoming local council and Women’s Development Committee elections, scheduled for April next year.

Highlighting the scale of the elections, Zahid noted that local council and Women’s Development Committee elections involve the largest number of candidates in the country. As such, the commission has prioritised preparations to ensure an efficient and legally compliant electoral process. He stated that efforts are being made to gather the necessary data regarding candidate selection across constituencies, in accordance with existing laws and regulations. Furthermore, Zahid indicated that amendments to some of these legal frameworks are in progress to facilitate smoother electoral operations.

One of the principal challenges ahead of the elections, according to Zahid, is the issue of securing adequate venues to serve as polling centres. He remarked on the growing difficulty in identifying suitable buildings. He noted that, at present, venues such as Dharubaaruge and the former Jamaluddin School were no longer available, which posed significant challenges in securing suitable locations within the city.

To mitigate this issue, the commission is exploring ways to streamline operations. Zahid explained that efforts are being made to minimise staff requirements and administrative workload, thereby also reducing overall election-related costs. They are currently comparing previous elections with the upcoming one to determine the extent to which digitisation can be implemented and how it could contribute to cost reduction.

In line with this, the Elections Commission is working towards digitising all processes related to the elections except for voting and vote counting. Zahid emphasised that the objective is to make the electoral process more accessible and convenient for the public through enhanced use of digital tools.

Looking beyond logistical concerns, Zahid also expressed the Commission’s commitment to strengthening the country’s democratic framework. He affirmed that collaboration with political parties will remain a cornerstone of this effort, as the commission seeks to uphold transparency and inclusiveness in the democratic process.