Local Council and WDC Elections Scheduled for 28 March 2026

The upcoming local council and Women’s Development Committee (WDC) elections will be held on 28 March 2026, the President of the Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM), Mohamed Zahid, announced yesterday.

Speaking on Public Service Media’s Raajje Miadhu programme, Zahid said the commission had set a tentative date for the elections and that candidacy will open on 17 January 2026.

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Zahid stated that Maldivians have strong confidence in the country’s existing physical ballot voting system, which allows eligible citizens to cast votes in person. However, he acknowledged that the process remains costly, with projected expenses estimated between MVR 70 million and MVR 80 million.

To reduce costs, the ECM will introduce online applications for candidacy this election. Zahid noted that sufficient time will be provided for candidates to familiarise themselves with the digital submission process.

He added that while preparations for the local council election were already underway, the commission also had to make arrangements for the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission election and the Addu City referendum, as mandated by new laws. The ECM did not proceed with the media council election due to an insufficient number of eligible candidates, while the Addu referendum is set for next Saturday.

Despite the additional workload, Zahid said preparations for the local council election are progressing smoothly.

In terms of logistics, he highlighted that the commission would require 270 administrative staff, who must be trained specifically for the upcoming polls. As each election involves minor regulatory differences, Zahid said the ECM is currently selecting around 110 trainers to receive instruction before conducting training sessions across the islands. So far, 115 individuals have applied for these trainer positions, he added.