The People’s Majlis Committee on Independent Institutions has concluded its review of the constitutional amendment bill proposing the simultaneous holding of presidential and parliamentary elections, forwarding the legislation to the Parliament floor without any changes and setting the stage for swift approval.
The proposed amendment seeks to align the country’s two highest national elections into a single voting exercise, a move the government has framed as a decisive step toward electoral efficiency, political stability, and reduced public expenditure. By consolidating election timelines, the reform aims to ease voter fatigue and streamline nationwide polling operations across the archipelago.
Crucially, lawmakers say that if the amendment is passed within this week, it will be included on the same ballot used for the local council elections scheduled for 3rd April 2026. This would allow voters to decide on the constitutional change alongside their council representatives, reinforcing public participation in a major democratic reform.
The bill had earlier been accepted for consideration by the Majlis and referred to the Independent Institutions Committee for review, part of a broader legislative push to recalibrate the electoral system in line with governance priorities.
With committee scrutiny now complete and no revisions proposed, the amendment is expected to return to the Majlis floor imminently, where supporters argue it represents a timely and people-centric reform that strengthens the democratic process while reducing the political and financial strain of repeated nationwide elections.
