The day of the upcoming parliamentary elections will be a government holiday.

This was revealed by Vice President of the Elections Commission Ismail Habeeb, during the second meeting of the national advisory committee on the parliamentary elections 2024.

This comes after some agencies and institutions expressed concern over the day of polling being an official working day, even though polling has usually been held on Saturdays in the past.

Habeeb noted that the day of voting has not officially been declared a holiday yet, however, he noted that it would be officially announced soon.

Stressing that polls are not linked to any particular administration, Habeeb stated that the commission would focus on making voting arrangements easier for everyone.

284,327 are eligible to cast their votes in the parliamentary polls including 139,165 women and 145,162 men.

The parliamentary polls are slated for 17 March 2024. Those who wish to contest would be allowed to submit applications from January 31 to February 14.

According to the People’s Majlis, the new parliament which begins in 2024 will have 93 seats. These include two constituencies added to Malé City. From 2024, the capital city will have a total of 17 seats.

One seat each has been added to Baa atoll, Kaafu atoll, Gaaf Alif Atoll and Seenu Atoll as well.

The six seats added for 2024 are Central Hulhumalé constituency, North Hulhumalé constituency, Hithaadhoo constituency (Baa atoll) Hithaadhoo, Maalhos and Dharavandhoo, Huraa constituency (Kaafu atoll) Huraa, Himmafushi and Gulhi, Kolamaafushi constituency (Gaaf Alif atoll) Kolamaafushi and Dhevvadhoo and North Feydhoo constituency (Seenu atoll) Feydhoo and Maradhoo-Feydhoo.

The Elections Commission of Maldives has announced that Eydhafushi, Villingili and Meedhoo constituencies will have only the one island belonging to the constituency, with these changes. The report also notes that the names of some constituencies have been changed.

As such, Hulhumalé constituency will be known as South Hulhumalé constituency, Guraidhoo constituency will be known as Maafushi constituency, Thaa. Guraidhoo constituency will be known as Guraidhoo constituency and Feydhoo constituency will be known as South Feydhoo constituency.

The elections for the ongoing 19th tenure of Parliament were held on 6 April 2019.