Two ballot boxes to be stationed in Male' and five in Addu City for North Hithadhoo by-election
Ahmed Saeed of the PNC and Abdulla Sodiq of the MDP are set to contest the upcoming by-election for the vacant North Hithadhoo constituency seat. The Elections Commission has opened applications for election observers and monitors until May 16, inviting eligible individuals to apply through its official portal. A total of 4,114 people are eligible to vote in the election, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 6.
A person casts their ballot during the recent election (file photo). | Elections Commission
The Elections Commission has decided to place a total of seven ballot boxes for the upcoming North Hithadhoo constituency by-election.
According to data released by the commission, five ballot boxes will be stationed in Addu City, while two additional boxes will be set up in Male' to accommodate residents of the constituency living in the capital.
Voting for the election is scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 6, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. In Male', polling stations will be located at the south building of Dharumavantha School, while in Addu City, ballot boxes will be placed at Hithadhoo School. According to the Elections Commission’s voters' list, a total of 4,114 individuals are eligible to vote in this by-election.
Two candidates are contesting the by-election for the North Hithadhoo constituency seat. The contenders are Ahmed Saeed, representing the ruling People's National Congress (PNC), and Abdulla Sodiq from the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). The seat became vacant following a Supreme Court ruling against the former incumbent, Mohamed Sinan. The court disqualified Sinan after it was proven that he had failed to settle a proven debt in accordance with a prior court judgment.
Applications are now open for election observers, monitors, and candidate representatives for the upcoming election. Interested parties may submit their applications starting Thursday, May 7, until 3:00 PM on Saturday, May 16. All applications must be submitted through the Elections Commission's official online portal.
To serve as election observers and monitors, individuals must be Maldivian citizens aged 18 or older who are not currently serving a sentence for a criminal offense. Additionally, applicants must not have faced disciplinary action for code of conduct violations within the past five years, nor have any prior convictions for electoral offenses. Eligibility for election monitors is specifically reserved for personnel currently employed at registered media outlets.
Candidates are permitted to appoint only one representative per polling station. Similarly, only one observer and one monitor from each respective organization may be active at a polling station at any given time. The Elections Commission has decided to conduct a special information session for all parties involved in this election. For further information, the Commission requests the public to contact 3004432 or 3004433.
