The Elections Commission has on Tuesday said that nominees for the April’s parliamentary election can withdraw their candidacy “before the printing of ballot papers.”

While it was previously reported that 389 individuals are competing in the parliamentary elections- in all 87 constituencies- EC’s spokesperson on Tuesday said that three candidates have thus far withdrawn their names, reducing the total number of candidates to 386.

Noting that it had previously announced that names cannot be withdrawn after the draw of candidate numbers, Ahmed Akram said that the Commission has the authority to decide this.

“Hence, we have decided that names can be withdrawn before the printing of ballot papers,” he said.

EC is to finalize ballot printers later this evening. Two companies have expressed interest to print the ballot paper; M7 Print and Novelty Printers.

Furthermore, while candidates are required to pay a MVR 5,000 administrative fee with the candidacy form, Akram added that the Commission “will not be repaying the fee.”

Elections Commission had received a total of MVR 1,945,000 in administrative fees.

The three candidates that have withdrawn names so far are; Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s nominee for Mahibadhoo constituency Ali Ahmed, Maldives Labour and Social Democratic Party’s for Gemanafushi constituency Mohamed Ilhaam and independent candidate for Central-Hithadhoo constituency Zahid Rameez.

While the parliamentary election is scheduled for April 6, 264,589 people are eligible to vote.