Maldivian presidential election to be held in September

The Vice President of the Elections Commission (EC), Ismail Habeeb | Photo: Mihaaru

Malé, Maldives – Election Commission of Maldives has said that this year’s presidential election will be held in early September and the official date will be announced on the 15th of this month.

Election Commission Vice President Ismail Habeeb said the official date of the presidential election would be announced on the 15th of this month.

Habeeb said the official date of the election will be determined considering the duration required in the case of a second round.

The date on which candidates will be open for nomination and the deadlines for voter registration will be announced on the 15th of this month, he said.

According to the Maldivian constitution a president is elected by direct vote and serves a 5-year term. The candidate must obtain 50% of the votes, and if no candidate obtains the majority, a run-off election must be held between the two major candidates.

The last presidential election was held on September 23, 2018. The election was contested by the PPM candidate, then President Abdullah Yameen and incumbent President Ibrahim Mohammed Solih. The election did not go to a second round.