Voter turnout approached the halfway mark by mid-afternoon, with more than 131,000 people casting their ballots as polling continued across the Maldives, according to the Elections Commission (EC).
The Commission reported that 131,947 voters had participated by 2:00 p.m., accounting for 44.75 percent of the total eligible electorate of 294,876 voters.
Turnout Breakdown
Of those who voted so far:
- 63,175 were men
- 68,772 were women
This indicates a slightly higher participation rate among female voters during the afternoon hours.
Meanwhile, 162,929 voters — roughly 55 percent of the electorate — had yet to cast their ballots, with less than two hours remaining before polling stations close.
Final Hours of Voting
With polls scheduled to close at 4:00 p.m., officials are anticipating a final surge in turnout as voters head to polling stations during the closing hours.
Authorities have urged those who have not yet voted to make use of the remaining time, emphasizing the importance of participation in what is one of the country’s most significant election days.
Three Votes Taking Place
Voters are casting ballots in three concurrent electoral processes:
- Local Council Elections
- Women’s Development Committee (WDC) Elections
- A national referendum on whether Presidential and Parliamentary elections should be held on the same day in the future
The Elections Commission said it continues to monitor voting activity across all polling stations nationwide as the process moves toward its conclusion.
