The Elections Commission of Maldives (EC) has signed agreements with five institutions, to provide the necessary assistance in connection with the fast-approaching parliamentary polls.

The agreements were signed with the Civil Service Commission, Maldives Police Service (MPS), Department of National Registration, Local Government Authority (LGA) and Maldives Post.

Touching upon the signing of the agreements, EC’s Vice President Ismail Habeeb revealed that the support of these five institutions is very much needed to ensure that the upcoming People’s Majlis elections proceed smoothly, and that they would play a vital role in the smooth completion of the electoral proceedings.

Habeeb stressed that the commission required the cooperation and assistance of the Civil Service Commission to recruit officials and set up focal points across the scatter of islands comprising the Maldives.

He added that the commission also requires the cooperation of MPS to ensure that the elections are conducted peacefully, and to ensure security and safety when transporting ballot boxes and ballot papers to outlying islands.

Shedding light on the previous elections, Habeeb noted that they had received the full cooperation of MPS and the Civil Service Commission in the previous elections as well.

Adding that the commission needs assistance from the Department of National Registration in the re-registration process, Habeeb highlighted that they would also need help from LGA to manage work across islands.

Further, he said that the process of transporting ballot boxes to islands would be made more efficient with the help of Maldives Post.

Therefore, the agreements signed with the five institutions are expected to make the election process that much swifter, and more complete.

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

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

Those who wish to contest would be allowed to submit applications from January 31 to February 14.

EC on January 30 opened candidacy for the polls.

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.