Holding referendum with council polls will cost MVR 20m more: EC
Under the Referendum Act, a minimum of 45 days and a maximum of 90 days must elapse between the submission of a request for a public referendum and the polling day. The law also requires that public awareness campaigns be conducted within this specified period.
Parliament’s Committee on Independent Institutions meets with officials from the Elections Commission and the Attorney General’s Office | People's Majlis | People's Majlis
President of the Elections Commission (EC) Mohamed Zahid has stated that an additional MVR 20 million would be required if legislation is passed to hold a referendum on synchronizing presidential and parliamentary elections alongside the Local Council Elections.
Addressing the Committee on Independent Institutions on Monday, Zahid explained that conducting the referendum simultaneously with council elections would entail substantial additional expenditure. These costs include the printing of ballot papers, the recruitment of extra election officials, and the payment of their respective allowances.
Zahid further noted that additional ballot boxes required for the referendum would have to be transported to islands across the country, resulting in further logistical expenses.
As a result, he emphasized that EC would require a budgetary supplement of MVR 20 million if the legal framework is established to proceed with holding both the referendum and the Local Council Elections at the same time.
During the committee session, Zahid stated that combining these electoral processes would constitute a significant change to the Maldives’ democratic framework.
He stressed the need to ensure that the public is properly informed about the proposed changes and their implications.
In this context, Zahid urged the People’s Majlis to expedite the required constitutional amendments and related procedures if the referendum is intended to coincide with the Local Council Elections. He highlighted that timely legislative action is critical to allow the commission to carry out the necessary administrative preparations.
Under the Referendum Act, a minimum of 45 days and a maximum of 90 days must elapse between the submission of a request for a public referendum and the polling day. The law also requires that public awareness campaigns be conducted within this specified period.
