The Elections Commission (EC) has disclosed that a total of 50 resorts have requested to keep ballot boxes in the respective resorts for the upcoming 2023 Presidential Election.

The Secretary General of the EC, Hassan Zakariyya, remarked on RaajjeTV's "Falasurukhee" program that a great deal of work is being done to prepare for the Presidential Election.

As such, Zakariyya stated that a significant amount of work has been completed in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism. He added that discussions have taken place on which resorts the ballot boxes will be kept.

Highlighting that a total of 50 resorts have so far requested to keep ballot boxes in the respective resorts, Zakariyya noted that ballot boxes will be kept in resorts where more than 50 people register to vote, during the re-registration period.

Additionally, Zakariyya stated that the commission is conducting a special survey and noted that the commission will closely monitor the places where ballot boxes are usually placed, to make sure they are the most suitable places to keep the ballot boxes.

The commission will be keeping vote boxes in countries, where more than 150 Maldivians, who are eligible and willing to voting are registered in.

Elections Commission has disclosed that the 2023 Presidential Election will be held on 09 September.

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 for 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 to 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 vote papers used will be of high quality and that the commission will make sure that the vote papers cannot be duplicated.

The Election Commission started discussions with the relevant authorities in 2022, 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) has announced President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih as their candidate for the election.

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.

Furthermore, former Home Minister Umar Naseer has also announced his interest in taking part in the 2023 Presidential Election.

Leader of Jumhooree Party (JP) and Member of Parliament for Maamigili Constituency, Qasim Ibrahim has announced that he will be running for the upcoming Presidential Election 2023, as the Presidential Candidate of the party.