Presidential Election to see 574 ballot boxes

The Elections Commission of Maldives has announced the decision to set up a total of 574 ballot boxes for this year’s presidential election.

This was revealed by the Elections Commission via a Twitter post on Tuesday.

As such, the commission revealed that the initial number of 604 ballot boxes to be stationed across the Maldives and abroad, for the fast-approaching presidential polls has been reduced to 574, after the reregistration process.

According to the latest information publicized by the Elections Commission, they will be setting up 142 polling stations for voters native to the capital, Malé City and outlying atoll natives residing in the capital city.

In addition to this, 27 ballot boxes will be set up in Hulhumalé.

The commission is to set up seven ballot boxes in Villimalé.

Further, a total of 319 polling stations will be set up in outlying atolls, with the commission to establish 65 ballot boxes in resorts and five ballot boxes at Prison complexes.

One ballot box will be placed at Thilafushi.

In addition to this, a total of eight ballot boxes will be set up in five other countries.

As such, three ballot boxes will be stationed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, two in Colombo, Sri Lanka and one each in London, United Kingdom, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and Trivandrum, India.

A total of 42,867 forms were submitted to reregister for the 2023 Presidential Election. As such, 22,882 forms were submitted online during the re-registration period and 19,985 application forms were submitted to their centers.

A total of 35,849 forms have been re-registered. These included 18,088 online applications and 17,761 paper applications.

This year's Presidential Election is slated for 09 September and eight candidates have submitted their forms of candidacy. Five candidates from major political parties and three independent candidates.

A total of 282,755 people are eligible to vote in the election.