Elections Commission (EC) has opened application for the upcoming 2023 Presidential Election slated for 09 September.
EC states the application period for candidates running for president will be open from 9:00 am 23rd July 2023 until 2:00 pm, 07th August 2023.
Applications for the Presidential Election shall be submitted to the Election Center. Applications will be accepted by the commission from Saturday through Thursday between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm and on Fridays between 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm, within the time frame specified.
EC notes that candidates must adhere to the criteria outlined in Article 109 of the Constitution and Article 7 of the Presidential Election Act
The requirements for a candidate for the position of Vice-President are the same as those for the President of the Maldives, as stated in Article 112(N) of the Constitution.
The requirements for running for president are;
- The candidate should be a Maldivian, born to a Maldivian mother and a Maldivian Father, and should not be a citizen of a foreign country
- The candidate should be a a Muslim and a member of the Sunni community
- The candidate should be above the age of 35
- The candidate should be of sound mind
- If the candidate has a proven debt to be paid, they shall not be a person who has not paid that debt
- If the candidate has been convicted of a criminal offense and sentenced to a term of imprisonment of more than twelve months, three years should have passed since the sentence was completed or the punishment imposed by the sentence was remitted
- The candidate must not have been convicted of a hudud crime (act prohibited by God and punished by defined mandatory penalties in Islam) or an offense of fraud, tax evasion and treason
Elections Commission stated that Article 25 of the General Elections Act requires every candidate to appoint an official election agent before contesting the election.
Furthermore, candidates must appear before a member or employee of the EC and submit information, documents and materials in accordance with Article 8(H) of the Presidential Election Act. If the person is unable to attend, they should send a letter to the EC, explaining the reason for their absence, and may send a substitute to submit the information, documents and materials for the candidacy.
In addition, the Election Commission stated that the candidate must complete a document containing the details of 1,500 people (full name, National Identity Card number, permanent address and signature), if they are running as an independent candidate.
The election voting period is set to run from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm on 09th September.
EC has disclosed that a total of 604 ballot boxes will be stationed across the Maldives and abroad for the Presidential Election.
The Commission has disclosed that a total of 604 ballot boxes will be stationed across the Maldives and abroad for the Presidential Election.
A total of 282,755 people are eligible to vote in the election.
