The Elections Commission (EC) has opened registration for visually impaired voters ahead of the upcoming local council and women’s development committee elections.

Visually impaired voters can register to vote using a special template during the elections. Registration will remain open until Monday, 23 February. Eligible voters who wish to use the voting template must register by calling 1414 before 10:00 pm on that day. The registration service is available daily from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm, except on Fridays, when it operates from 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

The voting template was first introduced in 2023 to enable people with visual impairments to independently mark their ballot papers. It was first used during the 2023 presidential election and has since been used in subsequent presidential and parliamentary elections.

The EC said training programmes have been conducted in Malé and across the atolls to familiarise voters with the use of the template.

The Elections Commission highlighted the initiative is an important step towards ensuring ballot secrecy for voters with visual disabilities and safeguarding their right to vote freely and independently.