Citizens can vote with expired ID: Elections Commission

The Elections Commission (EC) has stated that ballot boxes will be transported to islands by Thursday, and that citizens can vote in the upcoming elections with expired National ID Cards.

EC President Ahmed Shareef made the announcement in a tweet shared on Sunday, noting that the Department of National Registration has now extended the duration for which expired National ID cards will be valid, until 30 June 2021.

The Department of National Registration implemented the changes in light of difficulties to renew expired ID cards amid the global Covid-19 pandemic.

A total of 273,128 citizens are eligible to vote in the Local Council and Women's Development Committee Elections of 2021. Of this number, 5,134 voters will be those who turn 18 by 10 April 2021, which the EC notes is the highest number of new voters to take part in an election thus far.

3,934 candidates are set to contest in the upcoming elections, including 2,264 candidates contesting for local council seats and 1,670 candidates contesting to be elected for Women's Development Committees nationwide.

President of the EC Ahmed Shareef has also confirmed that 735 ballot boxes will be transported to islands of the Maldives before Thursday ahead of the elections. Shareef stated that no more than 600 people will vote into the same box, and has confirmed that health and safety measures will be implemented at voting stations to prevent the spread of Covid-19.