Reregistration period for the election will not be extended: EC

The Elections Commission has announced that the commission will not be extending the reregistration period for the upcoming 2023 Presidential Election.

The Election Commission opened the reregistration process for the upcoming election on the 16th July.

There are two ways for people in the Maldives to register. Until the end of July 2023, citizens were given the opportunity to apply online. Citizens can also submit a reregistration form to the commission before the fifth of August.

Online reregistration was available for those who use a registered Maldivian phone number. Roaming users were able to access the service even if they were in another nation because the OTP was sent to those phones for registration.

While the deadline for reregistration will expire on 04:00pm, Saturday, those that reregistered to vote in Male' City during the last Council Election will be registered in Male'.

Those who have registered for the local council elections in islands other than Male', will be registered for this year's presidential election at their permanent address.

This year's Presidential Election is slated for 09 September. A total of 282,755 people are eligible to vote in the election. EC states that 29،951 has so far submitted their reregistration form.

Elections Commission has stated that 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.

EC has disclosed that a total of 604 ballot boxes will be stationed across the Maldives and abroad for the Presidential Election.

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.

The commission has stated that the amount of total polling stations to be established will likely change after voter re-registration.