The Democrats Open Applications for 2026 Local Council and WDC Elections

The Democrats have opened applications for party members to contest in the 2026 Local Council and Women’s Development Committee (WDC) elections under the party’s ticket.

In a statement, The Democrats said they will circulate an electronic form to all party members to allow them to declare their interest in contesting. The deadline to respond to the form is 31 January.

The party said that if more than one candidate applied to contest for the same seat, it will hold an internal primary election to select its candidate.

ލޯކަލް ކައުންސިލްތަކުގެ އިންތިޚާބާއި އަންހެނުންގެ ތަރައްޤީއަށް މަސައްކަތްކުރާ ކޮމެޓީގެ އިންތިޚާބު 2026 ގައި ޕާޓީ ޓިކެޓްގައި ވާދަކުރުމުގެ ފުރުޞަތު ހުޅުވާލުން. pic.twitter.com/u6UECGXS6X— The Democrats (@TheDemocratsMV) January 18, 2026

Interested candidates must apply through the official portal on the Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM) website, in line with standard application procedures. Applicants are required to submit a debt clearance report and a criminal record history dated from 1 December 2025.

The Democrats said it will endorse candidates after they select the option to contest under the party’s name through the official application portal. Applicants are also required to pay a fee of MVR 1,500.

The announcement comes as major political parties have already completed their primary elections to choose candidates for the upcoming local council polls. The move also follows the Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) recent primary for the Malé mayoral race, in which former senior Democrat Ali Azim, who later joined MDP, lost the party’s ticket to Adam Azim, the incumbent mayor. 

The Democrats were formed by former president Mohamed Nasheed after he broke away from the MDP, which he previously led. Nasheed established the party after losing to then-president and MDP leader Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the 2023 MDP presidential primary. Nasheed and most of his supporters rejoined MDP last year.