EC to open nominations for council and WDC elections this Saturday ahead of April 4 vote

The Elections Commission (EC) has announced that nominations for the upcoming Local Council and Women’s Development Committee (WDC) elections will officially open this Saturday, January 17.

The elections are scheduled to take place on April 4.

The EC has already launched its digital portal for candidates, which will be used to complete the nomination process. The deadline for submitting candidacies is 00:00 on February 1.

Candidates can access the portal through eFaas, while political parties must submit endorsement requests via the Simedha portal, the EC said at a press conference on Thursday.

Independent candidates must secure the support of at least 50 constituents, who can register their support through the EC’s portal. However, candidates contesting WDC seats are not required to gather supporter endorsements.

ލޯކަލް ކައުންސިލްތަކުގެ އިންތިޚާބާއި އަންހެނުންގެ ތަރައްޤީއަށް މަސައްކަތްކުރާ ކޮމިޓީގެ އިންތީޚާބު 2026 ގެ އިންތިޚާބާބެހޭ ލަފާދޭ ޤައުމީ ކޮމިޓީގެ ފުރަތަމަ ބައްދަލުވުމުގެ ތެރެއިން. pic.twitter.com/n4noiHOTL8

— Elections Commission (@ElectionsMv) January 15, 2026

According to the EC’s voter registry, 294,937 people are eligible to vote in this year’s council elections, 150,410 males and 144,527 females.

A total of 626 councillors will be elected to island councils and 52 councillors to city councils. Following recent constitutional amendments, 132 islands will elect three councillors each, including a council president and a special member for women. Forty-six islands will elect five councillors, including two women members.

The ruling PNC held its council primaries on December 27, while the opposition MDP is scheduled to hold its primaries on Friday.