Voting Hours Extended to 5 PM Amid High Temperatures in Maldives
A woman at a polling station on Saturday, April 4, 2026 | Photo: MV+
The Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM) has extended voting hours until 5:00 p.m. today, citing unusually high temperatures.
The commission said the extension was necessary due to the heat, long queues, and difficulties faced by many in casting their votes during the ongoing Local Council and Women’s Development Committee elections, as well as the public referendum. Voting had initially been scheduled to close at 4:00 p.m.
Voting began at 8:00 a.m., although delays meant not all polling stations opened on time. The ECM confirmed that all stations were officially operational by 9:32 a.m.
މިއަދު ކުރިއަށްދާ ލޯކަލް ކައުންސިލްތަކާއި އަންހެނުންގެ ތަރައްޤީއަށް މަސައްކަތްކުރާ ކޮމިޓީގެ އިންތިޚާބު އަދި ރައްޔިތުންގެ ޚިޔާލު ހޯދުމުގެ ޢާންމު ވޯޓުގެ
ވޯޓުލުން ހޫނުގަދަވެ، ކިއުދިގުވެ ގިނަބަޔަކަށް ވޯޓުލުމަށް ދަތިވެފައިވާތީ، ހަވީރު 5:00އާަ ހަމައަށް ވޯޓުލުމުގެ ވަގުތު އިތުުރު…— Elections Commission (@ElectionsMv) April 4, 2026
Despite the extreme heat, nearly half of eligible voters had cast their ballots by 2:00 p.m. The commission reported that 131,947 voters, or 44.75 percent of eligible voters, had participated by that time. This included 63,175 women and 68,772 men, while 162,929 people, or 55.25 percent, had not yet voted.
According to the Maldives Meteorological Service, air temperatures recorded at 2:00 p.m. were 31.9°C in Haa Dhaalu Atoll, Hanimaadhoo; 33.1°C in Kaafu Atoll, Hulhulé; 31.4°C in Laamu Atoll, Kadhdhoo; 31.7°C in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, Kaadedhdhoo; and 32.0°C in Seenu Atoll, Gan.
However, “feels like” temperatures were considerably higher, reaching 36.7°C in Hanimaadhoo, 38.4°C in Hulhulé, 36.5°C in Kadhdhoo, 36.9°C in Kaadedhdhoo, and 36.1°C in Gan.
The ECM is overseeing the local council elections, WDC elections, and the public referendum. The referendum asks citizens whether they support the President ratifying the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution Bill, passed by parliament on 10 February 2026. The amendment proposes aligning parliamentary elections with presidential elections and revising the method for calculating parliamentary terms.
