Elections Commission


Elections Commission condemned over veiled threat to annul MDP primary
With exiled former president Nasheed’s campaign for the May 30 primary in full swing, the EC announced guidelines for conducting primaries and implicitly rejected the candidacies of convicted opposition leaders.
22 May 2018, 9:00 AM


Bids to form new political parties rejected
The founder of the proposed ‘Great Green Connection’ was a member of an existing party whilst the ‘Maldivian Republic Party’ could not be registered because its name was too similar to Jumhoree Party.
16 Apr 2018, 9:00 AM


Shareef made new Elections Commission chief
With only ruling coalition lawmakers present, President Abdulla Yameen’s nominee to the five-member electoral body was approved with 33 votes from the 85-member house.
06 Mar 2018, 9:00 AM


President nominates utility boss to Elections Commission
Local media reported Sunday that former MP Ahmed Shareef Adam was the only candidate sent for parliamentary approval out of those who applied to the president’s office.
04 Mar 2018, 9:00 AM


Disqualification of three MPs ‘egregiously partisan move’
The EC informed parliament Tuesday that MPs Mohamed Musthafa, Saudhulla Hilmy and Ali Shah have lost their seats following their expulsion from the Progressive Party of Maldives.
01 Nov 2017, 9:00 AM


MDP fined MVR60k for alleged call to gather outside police headquarters
A tweet urging supporters to come to the police station in solidarity with an elderly female activist summoned for questioning “violates section seven and 48 of the Political Parties Act as well as the Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Act,” the electoral body informed the MDP.
20 Aug 2017, 9:00 AM


MDP vice president accused of defaming Elections Commission
Shifaz, a former lawmaker, was summoned for questioning Tuesday night for alleging during the 2017 local council elections campaign that the independent electoral body was subject to undue influence from President Abdulla Yameen.
17 Aug 2017, 9:00 AM


Elections Commission to disburse funds for political parties
With 39,502 members, the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives will receive MVR10 million (US$648,508). The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party with 29,350 members is entitled to MVR7.5 million (US$486,400).
25 May 2017, 9:00 AM


Council elections turnout at 66 percent
Contrary to media reports and claims by ruling party lawmakers and ministers, the turnout in the capital was 42 percent and voters turned out in much higher numbers in the rest of the country.
16 May 2017, 9:00 AM


Elections Commission begins announcing results
With results from 98 percent of 422 ballot boxes collected, the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party is leading with 315 seats and the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives is trailing with 185 seats.
09 May 2017, 9:00 AM


Election ‘marred’ by arbitrary extension of voting hours
Administrative processes during Saturday’s local council election was “marred by the questionable decision by the Elections Commission to arbitrarily extend the voting time,” Transparency Maldives has said after observing the voting process.
07 May 2017, 9:00 AM


Maldives votes in third local council election
After multiple delays and campaigning amidst a political crisis, voting is underway throughout the Maldives in the country’s third local council elections.
06 May 2017, 9:00 AM


Council election campaign concludes
The May 6 local council election is due to take place despite the refusal of opposition candidates to endorse the final voter list due to concerns over its accuracy.
05 May 2017, 9:00 AM


Council elections delayed for third time over flu outbreak
“President Yameen is convinced he can’t win a fair election and has delayed #LCE2017 for the 3rd time. A case of lies upon lies. Unacceptable,” tweeted former President Mohamed Nasheed, the opposition leader.
18 Mar 2017, 9:00 AM


Maldives local council elections postponed a second time
The elections commission has once again set back the vote to elect local councils stating that voting stations could not be set up in public schools on April 8.
02 Feb 2017, 9:00 AM


Court to rule on legal row over nominations for local council elections
The high court is set to rule on whether the elections commission was right to void some 900-candidacy papers and open a call for new nominations ahead of the upcoming local council elections.
22 Jan 2017, 9:00 AM


Adhaalath to boycott local council elections
Participating in the vote would legitimise an election that has been “unlawfully stolen” from the people, the religious conservative party said.
10 Jan 2017, 9:00 AM


Local council elections date set for April 8
Local council elections will be held on April 8, the elections commission has announced. It also set a new deadline for candidacy papers allowing President Abdulla Yameen’s party to field candidates.
09 Jan 2017, 9:00 AM


Local council elections rescheduled for April
The elections commission has assured political parties that the postponed local council elections will be rescheduled for early April with a new date to be announced next week.
04 Jan 2017, 9:00 AM


Elections commission withdraws appeal against poll delay
The elections commission has withdrawn its appeal of a civil court judgment that postponed next year’s local council elections by two months, drawing fierce criticism from political parties over the independence of the electoral body.
24 Dec 2016, 9:00 AM