Overseas Ballot Boxes Limited to Sri Lanka and Malaysia Due to Voter Threshold

The Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM) has stated that ballot boxes will not be placed in countries other than Sri Lanka and Malaysia, as the number of registered voters in other countries does not meet the minimum threshold set by the commission.

The commission requires a minimum of 2,000 registered voters in a country to justify placing a ballot box there. Additionally, at least 40 voters must be registered at each polling station in a constituency for a ballot box to be established. Only Malaysia and Sri Lanka met these criteria. The commission also consulted the Foreign Ministry before finalising the decision.

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The ECM considered the significant costs of setting up overseas ballot boxes and the importance of maintaining ballot secrecy when making its decision. The commission noted that if only a single voter registers at a location, the secrecy of the ballot could be compromised, making confidentiality a top priority.

Although over 100 resorts operate across the Maldives, ballot boxes will be placed in only 50 resorts. Boxes will be installed solely in resorts that have expressed interest, with none placed in resorts that declined. As the resorts are private property, the commission relied on information provided by the Tourism Ministry in deciding where to set up ballot boxes.

For the upcoming Local Council Elections on 4 April, there are 294,937 eligible voters, comprising 144,527 women and 150,410 men. The commission is currently accepting complaints regarding the voters’ registry through its My Portal (my.elections.gov.mv) until 3pm on 18 January.

A total of 621 ballot boxes will be placed for the election. Of these, 321 will be distributed across the atolls, while 240 will be located in HDh. Kulhudhuffushi, GDh. Thinadhoo, Fuvahmulah, Addu, Malé, Hulhumalé and Vilimale’.