2023 Presidential Election to be held on 09 September
If the election were to see a second round, the second round will be held on 30 September
Press Conference held by the Elections Commission
Elections Commission has disclosed that the 2023 Presidential Election will be held on 09 September.
The Commission made the statement on Sunday.
As such, if the election were to see a second round, the second round will be held on 30 September.
The results of both the rounds will be announced within seven days of the election.
Furthermore, list of eligible voters will be published on 02 May and complaints regarding the voters list will be opened from 02 May to 02 June.
The re-registration process is scheduled to be opened from 16 July to 05 August.
Application for candidacy will be opened on 23 July. The last date foe the application is 03 August.
Application for observers and monitors are to be opened from 25 July to 13 August.
Candidate names and numbers will be announced on 09 August 2023.
Additionally, candidates will be given time to campaign from 10 August to 08 September 2023.
The Presidential Election of 2023, is expected to see an eligible voting population of 280,000. The last Presidential Election of 2018 saw 265,135 eligible voters.
The commission expects see around 600 vote boxes for this election. As such; 145 vote boxes are to be kept in Male', 47 vote boxes in Hulhumale', 10 vote boxes in Villimale' and 327 vote boxes are to be kept in cities and atolls.
Furthermore, 50 vote boxes are to be kept in resorts, four boxes in jails, five boxes in industrial islands and 12 boxes in other countries.
Elections Commission highlights that changes may come to the number of boxes, depending on the number of people, who reregister during the reregistration period.
The highest number of vote boxes the commission has decided on is 800.
The commission will be keeping vote boxes in countries, where more than 150 Maldivians, who are eligible and willing to voting are registered in.
The vote papers used will be of high quality and that the commission will make sure that the vote papers can not be duplicated.
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.
