ECM Opens Applications for North Hithadhoo By-Election Observers and Monitors

The Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM) has opened applications for observers, monitors and candidate representatives for the by-election in the Addu City North Hithadhoo constituency, scheduled to be held on 6 June.

The ECM said applications will remain open until 3:00 pm on 16 May.

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According to the Commission, individuals and parties interested in observing and monitoring the voting and vote-counting process of the North Hithadhoo constituency by-election, as well as those seeking to serve as candidate representatives, may now submit applications.

Candidates contesting the by-election will be permitted to appoint one representative for each polling station to monitor the voting and counting process.

The ECM stated that representatives must be Maldivian citizens aged 18 or above and must not be serving a criminal sentence, working on election-related duties assigned by the Commission, or contesting another position in the election.

Representatives must also not be judges, members or heads of independent institutions, members of the Maldives Police Service or the Maldives National Defence Force, or individuals detained under suspicion of a crime. In addition, applicants must not have breached the election code of conduct within the last five years or been convicted of an election-related offence.

The Commission said monitors must also be Maldivian citizens aged 18 or older and must be verified as employees of registered media organisations, including radio and television stations, newspapers or magazines.

Observers applying through civil society organisations or independently must not be listed in the registry of any political party, the ECM added.

All applicants are required to declare that they have read and agreed to abide by the code of conduct established by the Elections Commission for election participants.

The Commission stated that candidates must personally submit representative applications through the main portal. Applications for monitors must be submitted through designated data liaisons for media organisations, while political parties applying for observers must use the “Simedha” portal. NGOs and private individuals applying as observers must submit forms through the main portal.

The North Hithadhoo constituency by-election is scheduled for 6 June.

A total of 4,114 people are eligible to vote in the by-election. The ECM said seven ballot boxes will be placed for voting, including two in Malé and five in Hithadhoo.

Voters who cast their ballots in the Greater Malé Area during the local council election last month will automatically be registered to vote at ballot boxes placed in Malé without the need for re-registration. However, voters wishing to cast ballots in Addu will be required to re-register.