Two Cities and New Constituencies from Three Atolls to Join 2024 Parliament

Photo: People’s Majlis
The Election Commission of Maldives (ECM) announced two cities and new constituencies from three atolls will be included in the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for next year. The ECM is currently in the process of making the necessary legal changes to accommodate these new constituencies.
ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޤާނޫނުއަސާސީގެ 71 ވަނަ މާއްދާގައި ބުނެފައިވާގޮތުން، ރައްޔިތުންގެ މަޖިލީހުގެ މެންބަރުންގެ ޢަދަދު ކަނޑައަޅަނީ؛ ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ކޮންމެ އިދާރީ ދާއިރާއެއްގައި ރަޖިސްޓަރީ ކުރެވިފައިވާ އާބާދީގެ ފުރަތަމަ ފަސް ހާސް މީހަކަށް ނުވަތަ ފަސް ހާސް މީހުން ހަމަނުވާ ކޮންމެ އިދާރީ…
— Ismail Habeeb (@IsmailHabeeb) July 16, 2023
The determination of parliamentary constituencies is based on population proportion changes. According to the Constitution, a separate member is elected for every 5,000 individuals. Vice President of the ECM, Ismail Habeeb, stated that the commission is actively working on preparations for the presidential election as well as the upcoming parliamentary elections in 2024.
Under the General Elections Act, the ECM is required to declare the constituencies and population ratios for the next parliamentary term at least 10 months before the current Parliament’s term expires.
Habeeb mentioned that this work has been in progress since February this year, and based on the information gathered so far, two city councils and three atolls will be added.
“Constituencies undergo changes every five years, and there have been multiple increases in the number of seats. This time also presents an opportunity for such an increase, with two cities and new constituencies from three atolls being added,” said Habeeb in the tweet.
The commission is set to release a report on the newly included areas on the 27th of this month, with the final report scheduled for September 28, as confirmed by Habeeb.
The current Parliament’s term is set to conclude on May 30 next year. The increase in the number of parliamentary members has raised concerns among many individuals. Currently, the House consists of 87 members, and the matter has yet to be resolved by the 19th parliament. Addressing the increase in parliamentary constituencies would require amending the Constitution.