Presidential election 2023 will most likely be held early September, says the Elections Commission.

Speaking to RaajjeMV, Vice President of the commission, Ismail Habeeb said that that the exact date for the election will be decided in the upcoming week.

Habeeb stated that the commission will hold a press briefing on 15 January, once a date for the election has been decided. The date is to be decided during the commission meeting, that is scheduled to be held on 11 January.

Habeeb also noted that the decision to hold the presidential election on an early date of September, is in accordance with the constitution.

Habeeb stated that the official day for the election would be announced, while considering a suitable date for a second round of the election. He stated that the commission will be taking necessary steps to have enough funds to hold a second round, incase a President is not chosen during the first round of the election.

Maldives constitute states that a second round of the election should be held if no one candidate gets more than 50 percent of the votes cast.

Additionally, Habeeb said that the due date for candidate applications and other relevant information would be shared during the press briefing scheduled for 15 January.

Moreover, Habeeb disclosed that the commission will be keeping vote boxes in countries, where more than 150 Maldivians, who are eligible and willing to voting are registered in. He said that boxes will not be kept in countries with less than 150 registered voters.

Highlighting that vote boxes were previously kept in Sri Lanka, England, India, Singapore and Malaysia, Habeeb noted that a large number of Maldivians are currently living in Dubai, Australia and Thailand as well.

Habeeb also noted that the commission will be keeping the vote boxes in countries where a Maldivian Consulate or a High Commission is established. If the commission were to keep vote boxes in countries where neither of these are established, they would need cooperation from the country's government.

Additionally, Habeeb noted that vote boxes will be kept in the resorts if 50 or more people register to vote from those resorts.

The Election Commission on 2022, started discussions with the relevant authorities to ensure a smooth election. The commission has also started awareness programs for the public, regarding the presidential election.

Political parties of the country have also started their campaigns for the upcoming presidential election. As such, opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) have announced that their candidate for the 2023 election is former president Abdulla Yameen. However, with the latest verdict that was brought against him by the Criminal Court, he is not an eligible candidate, according to the Maldivian constitution.

The ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) is currently getting ready to hold their primary election to decide on a presidential candidate for the party. As such, former President Mohamed Nasheed and President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih are taking part in the primary election.

MDP's primary election is scheduled to be held on 28 January.

President of the Maldives National Party (MNP), and the member of parliament for Dhangethi constituency, Mohamed Nazim has also announced his interest in taking part in the 2023 Presidential Election.