The Elections Commission of Maldives has announced that the by-election for the North Hithadhoo constituency will be held on June 6, following a ruling by the Supreme Court of the Maldives declaring the parliamentary seat vacant.

The Commission announced that candidates seeking to contest the seat can submit applications between 10:00 a.m. on April 14 and 3:00 p.m. on April 29, either via email or in person within the stipulated period. Voting is scheduled to take place from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on June 6, with official results expected to be announced on June 8.

The vacancy follows a Supreme Court decision that North Hithadhoo MP Mohamed Sinan lost his seat due to failure to comply with a court order to repay a loan. The case was filed by an independent party, with the court finding that Sinan had not settled the debt in accordance with an earlier ruling.

Under Maldivian electoral law, candidates must be Maldivian citizens, Sunni Muslims, and at least 18 years of age, while individuals with unpaid court-ordered debts or certain criminal convictions are ineligible to contest. The Commission also stated that application submissions must meet specified requirements, including confirmation of receipt if sent electronically.

Several individuals have already expressed interest in contesting the by-election, as political parties prepare for the vote to fill the vacant parliamentary seat in the constituency.