EC extends opportunity for media, parties and individuals to observe April 4 votes

The Elections Commission (EC) has reopened applications for those wishing to participate as monitors and observers in the April 4 local council elections and the public referendum on holding presidential and parliamentary elections on the same day.

The initial application window ran from February 9 to February 29. The commission announced on Tuesday that a second window is now open, allowing interested individuals and institutions to submit applications until 3pm on Wednesday.

According to the EC, media organisations must submit monitor applications through the commission’s main portal via a designated data liaison appointed for each outlet. Each media organisation will be allowed one monitor per polling and counting centre.

Political parties, associations and private individuals may apply as observers through the Simedha portal, with forms also required to be submitted through the EC’s main portal. The commission stated that political parties and associations may receive observer passes up to 10 percent of the total number of ballot boxes placed for the election. Only one observer per entity may be present inside a polling station at any given time.

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— Elections Commission (@ElectionsMv) March 3, 2026

The EC said it has so far received 3,091 applications for election monitoring and 1,477 applications for observing.

The public vote on whether to hold the presidential and parliamentary elections on the same day will take place alongside the local council elections on April 4. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said the proposal would increase voter participation.

The opposition MDP, however, has challenged the referendum in court, filing a petition seeking an interim order to halt the vote, arguing that the process is unlawful.