The Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM) has announced that 26,454 voters have re-registered to vote in the upcoming Local Council and Women’s Development Committee elections.

Re-registration was opened in two phases ahead of the elections. The Commission said ballot boxes will be placed at resorts and industrial islands only if at least 30 voters are registered at a location. According to ECM, 21 resorts met the minimum requirement, while no industrial islands registered enough voters to qualify for polling stations.

Under existing regulations, polling stations can only be established overseas if at least 2,000 voters are registered in a country and a minimum of 40 voters are registered for each constituency. ECM said these thresholds were not met in any foreign country and, as a result, no ballot boxes will be placed abroad for the upcoming elections.

Statistics released by the Commission show that 499 voters re-registered in Malaysia and 189 in Sri Lanka. However, these figures were insufficient to meet the criteria for establishing polling stations overseas. ECM also confirmed that polling stations will not be set up at 29 resorts and three industrial islands, Hulhulé, Thilafushi, and Gaafu Dhaalu Kaadedhdhoo, due to insufficient registrations.

Voters who re-registered for locations that did not meet the minimum requirement will be given a period to change their polling location to another eligible site. Those who do not update their registration within the stipulated timeframe will be required to vote in their home island or island of permanent registration. The Commission said re-registration for affected voters will be open from 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, 24 February until 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, 26 February, with details of removed polling stations to be published in the Government Gazette and on the Commission’s website.

A total of 2,960 candidates are contesting the elections. Of these, 1,322 candidates are fielded by the People’s National Congress (PNC), 905 by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), 15 by the Jumhooree Party, 57 by the Maldives Development Alliance, and nine by the Adhaalath Party, while 644 candidates are contesting as independents.

The Elections Commission said 294,937 people are eligible to vote in the elections, comprising 144,527 women and 150,410 men. The final list of eligible voters will be published after the re-registration process is completed.

The Local Council and Women’s Development Committee elections will be held nationwide on 4 April 2026.