Polling has officially come to an end across the Maldives, with authorities now closing ballot boxes as the last remaining voters in queues complete the voting process.
The Elections Commission (EC) confirmed that while the official voting deadline has passed, individuals who were already in line before closing time are being allowed to cast their ballots before boxes are sealed.
Today’s voting covered three major processes held simultaneously:
- Local Council Elections
- Women’s Development Committee (WDC) Elections
- A national referendum on synchronising Presidential and Parliamentary elections
Voting Extended Amid Heat and Late Surge
Polling was initially scheduled to conclude at 4:00 p.m., but was later extended to 5:00 p.m. following concerns that extreme daytime heat had slowed turnout earlier in the day.
As temperatures eased in the late afternoon, a noticeable surge in voters was observed at polling stations, leading to longer queues in several locations.
The EC stated that no additional voters were allowed to join queues after the 5:00 p.m. cutoff, with polling staff now working to process those already in line.
Counting to Begin After Closure
According to the Commission, vote counting will begin 30 minutes after each ballot box is officially closed.
In some areas where queues remained lengthy at closing time, it may take additional time before all ballots are cast and boxes are sealed.
Turnout Update
As of 4:00 p.m., voter turnout had reached approximately 62 percent of the total eligible electorate, reflecting a strong level of participation in the nationwide polls.
With voting now concluding, attention is expected to shift to the counting process and the release of preliminary results later in the evening.
