The Elections Commission of Maldives has announced the decision to set up a total of 604 ballot boxes for this year’s presidential election.

This was revealed by the Vice President of the Elections Commission, Ismail Habeeb via a Twitter post on Sunday.

As such, Habeeb revealed that 604 ballot boxes will be stationed across the Maldives and abroad, for the fast-approaching presidential polls, slated for 9 September 2023.

EC will be setting up 61 polling stations for voters native to the capital, Malé City and 77 polling stations for outlying atoll natives residing in the capital city.

In addition to this, six ballot boxes will be set up for Malé City natives residing in Hulhumalé Phase I and 16 ballot boxes will be placed for natives of outlying atolls residing in Hulhumalé Phase I.

It has also been revealed that one ballot box will be set up for Malé City natives residing in Hulhumalé Phase II and 16 ballot boxes will be placed for natives of outlying atolls residing in Hulhumalé Phase II.

The commission is to set up six ballot boxes for Malé City natives residing in Villimalé, four polling stations for natives of outlying atolls residing in Villimalé.

Further, a total of 319 polling stations will be set up in outlying atolls, with the commission to establish 78 ballot boxes in resorts and two ballot boxes at Maafushi Prison complex.

One ballot box will be placed each, at Asseyri Jail, Hulhumalé Prison, Dhoonidhoo, Hulhulé and Thilafushi.

In addition to this, two ballot boxes will be stationed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, four in Colombo, Sri Lanka and one each in Singapore, London, United Kingdom, Bangkok, Thailand, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Trivandrum, India, New Delhi, India and Tokyo, Japan.

Habeeb went on to reveal that the amount of total polling stations to be established will likely increase after voter re-registration.