Malé City mayoral by-election

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has cast his vote.

He arrived at the polling station to cast his vote close to 5pm.

Muizzu concluded his state visit to China on Saturday afternoon.

The Elections Commission of Maldives (EC) revealed that 12,198 individuals had cast their ballots by 3pm.

EC's statistics reveal that 12,198 individuals have cast their votes so far in the ongoing by-election.

This is 21.78 percent of the eligible voters.

Among the voters are 5,400 female voters and 6,798 male voters.

A total of 3,346 female and 4,537 male voters exercised their right to vote by 1pm in the ongoing Malé City Mayor and Malé City Councilors by-election.

The Election Commission (EC) revealed that a total of 7,883 voters exercised their right to vote by afternoon.

A complaint has been lodged at the Elections Commission of Maldives (EC) over accusations of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) attempting to interfere in the ongoing Malé City Mayor and Malé City Councilors by-election.

RaajjeMV has attained a copy of the complaint application.

The application notes that the government, led by the NDMA, was planning to carry out extensive campaign activities in the capital this afternoon in the name of “monitoring” the situation following the damage incurred by households due to the adverse weather conditions experienced on Friday. As such, officials from five state-owned companies are to be involved in this plan.

This plan has been alleged to be an opportunity to reach out to people and offer them promises in an attempt to influence the election process, and to bring out people to vote in support of the government.

Hence, EC has been requested to bring the matter to the spotlight before it is carried out, to stop such activities before they start and to launch an investigation into the case.

At a time NDMA has been accused of attempting to rig the polls, there have been formal complaints alleging that a political party has set up a call center at the social center.

EC’s findings so far indicate that administrative staff were present at social center.

The Elections Commission of Maldives (EC) has revealed that the voting time for the ongoing Malé City Mayor and Malé City Councilors by-election will not be extended.

In an interview with RaajjeTV, Vice President of EC Ismail Habeeb revealed that several individuals had requested for an extension of the voting period as some of the people who were supposed to travel to the capital for voting could not make it due to the adverse weather conditions experienced throughout the country on Friday.

To accommodate this request, EC had extended the voting deadline from 4pm to 5pm earlier.

Habeeb noted that voting would proceed till 5pm and that it will not be extended further.

Stressing on the low voter turnout, Habeeb stated that this was a matter of concern and that people are expected to come and cast their ballots later in the afternoon.

He added that candidates and their supporters were working to convince more people to go to their dedicated polling stations and cast their ballots.

Alongside the Malé City Mayor and Malé City Councilors by-election, the by-election for the Women’s Development Committee (WDC) in Mulah island of Meemu atoll is also underway.

Habeeb stated that the polling process was ongoing peacefully and that polling began at all but one booth before 8:25am on Saturday.

Voting at the polling station set for residents of Mulah in Malé City, commenced by 9:50am.

While a minimum of two voters were required to be present to begin polling, the two voters arrived at the station at 9:50am according to Habeeb.

More than 50,000 individuals are eligible to vote in the Malé City Mayor and Malé City Councilors by-election.

Only 40 percent of eligible voters had exercised their right to vote, during the last local council elections according to the commission.

The Elections Commission has revealed that a total of 6,201 individuals had exercised their right to vote by 12pm, in the ongoing by-elections to elect a Mayor of Malé City, and three constituencies of the city council.

Former Minister of Education Dr. Aishath Ali has also cast her ballot.

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid has cast his vote.

Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has cast his vote.

In addition to Yameen, Hussain Waheed (CP Waheed) who is contesting as an independent candidate in the mayoral elections of Malé City Council, also cast his vote.

Hussain Waheed is contesting with the support of President Yameen, even though he is contesting as an independent candidate.

The official results of the by-election will be announced on January 15.

You can check where you ballot box is located by sending a text to 1414.

VR (space) ID number, send to 1414

Votes will be casted to elect the Malé City mayor as well as members of the city council for the vacant positions at the council.

Elections Commission (EC) has announced that only 2.15 percent of the eligible voters has exercised their right to vote during the first hour.

As such, by 09:00 am, a total of 1,204 people casted their ballots. This includes 451 women and 735 men.

A total of 56,002 people are eligible to vote in this election.

Former State Minister at the Ministry of Housing Akram Kamaluddin has casted his ballot.

Former Economic Minister and Chairperson of MDP, Fayyaz Ismail has casted his ballot.

Former Defense Minister Mariya Didi has casted her ballot.

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)'s mayoral candidate, Adam Azim has casted his ballot.

Azim urged all to exercise their right to vote.

Vice President of the Elections Commission, Ismail Habeeb has urged voters to cast their votes as soon as possible

54,680 are eligible to vote in the on going Malé City mayoral by-election.

The election comes after former Malé City mayor Dr. Mohamed Muizzu won the presidential election of 2023 and was sworn in as the country’s eighth president on November 17, 2023.

Voting for Malé City mayoral by-election will close at 05:00 pm.

The by-election for the vacant post of Malé City mayor was commenced on 08:00 am, Saturday.