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Wednesday 22 Apr 2026
LOCAL EDITION
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LOCAL EDITION
Latest vote count sees incumbent Thinadhoo Mayor Saud Ali, representing opposition MDP, take the lead over PNC's candidate Mohamed Ajeeb.
Preliminary results:
Saud Ali (MDP) - 50.2 percent
Mohamed Ajeeb (PNC) - 49.8 percent
Results: Boduninmun 2026
Former President Mohamed Nasheed says MDP has dealt a massive loss to ruling PNC, dominating seats in all the cities and most of the islands.
Miadhu negi vote gai MDP mi vanee varah bodu thanun sarukaaru balikoh kaamiyaab hoadhaafa. Hurihaa city eh, gina rahrasheh, adhi fenna nufenna vote gai bodu thanun sarukaarah noonekey bunefi. Vote dhehvi hurihaa beyfulhunnah adhi vaadhaverinnah varah bodah marhaba.
— Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) April 4, 2026
Meanwhile, incumbent Thinadhoo City Mayor Saud Ali, a candidate from MDP, appears to be losing to Mohamed Ajeeb from PNC.
Preliminary results show opposition MDP leading in mayoral races.
Incumbent mayors from the MDP are leading in four out of five cities.
A large number of police officers are deployed to a polling station at Majeedhiyya School in Male’ following complaints over irregularities in determining invalid ballots.
EC’s vice president Abdul Rahman Salah Rasheed tells Sun that voting remains in progress in seven out of 588 ballot boxes.
Candidates leading mayoral races:
Male’ City:
Mayor Adam Azim (MDP)
Addu City:
Mayor Ali Nizar (MDP)
Fuvahmulah City:
Mayor Ismail Rafeeq (MDP)
Kulhudhuffushi City:
Mayor Mohamed Athif (MDP)
Thinadhoo City:
Mohamed Ajeeb (PNC)
These results are only preliminary, and are subject to change as results from more ballot boxes come in.
Preliminary results show from seven out of 588 ballot boxes show 68.4 percent are against synchronizing presidential and parliamentary elections.
Check prelminary results on referendum and mayoral races from here.
During today’s voting, our teams were on the ground providing first aid services and supporting the safe transfer of elderly individuals.
— MRC Male' City (@mrc_mcu) April 4, 2026
We are truly grateful to our volunteers for their dedication, compassion, and outstanding service ???????? pic.twitter.com/U9l2NyPIpn
Preliminary results on Male’ mayoral seat from box at Kangaroo Kids International Preschool:
Preliminary results from N. Kudafari WDC elections ballot boxes at Sun Siyam Olhuveli:
Preliminary results on referendum on synchronizing presidential and parliamentary elections from Central Maafannu 1 box:
Preliminary results from Fuvahmulah City mayor ballot boxes at Villa Nautica:
Preliminary results on referendum on synchronizing presidential and parliamentary elections from the Vilimale’ box at Social Center:
Preliminary results on referendum on synchronizing presidential and parliamentary elections from North Henveiru 2 box:
Preliminary results on referendum on synchronizing presidential and parliamentary elections from South Galolhu 7 box:
Preliminary results from Fuvahmulah City mayor ballot boxes at Cheval Blanc Randheli:
From the HA. Uligamu ballot box located at Kurimathi Maldives, independent candidate Ahmed Abubakr received two votes for the position of council member, while Imad Abdullah from PNC did not receive any votes.
EC’s vice president Abdul Rahman Salah Rasheed told 'Sun' that poll workers have begun counting ballots in 525 out of 588 ballot boxes.
Preliminary results have come in from the M. Dhiggaru ballot boxes at Cheval Blanc Randheli.
Council:
PNC’s Adam Khaleel won three votes, while MDP’s Abdulla Arif won one.
Council president:
PNC’s Waseel Hussain won two votes, while MDP’s Ahmed Nishan won two votes.
Results have begun coming in from some of the resorts.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has decided to keep government offices closed on Sunday and Monday.
Sunday and Monday declared public holidays https://t.co/wM1kAXBYln #PublicHolidays #ElectionDay #Vote2023
— sun.mv (@sunbrk) April 4, 2026
Poll workers will first count ballots in the local council elections, then the women's development committee elections, and then the referendum.
Poll workers unseal ballot boxes and begin counting votes in some of the polling stations.
Poll workers begin sealing ballot boxes in some of the polling stations.
Poll workers have closed queues at 05:00 pm. Voters who were in queue at 05:00 pm will be allowed to vote, but no newcomers will be allowed to join the queue. Ballot boxes will be closed once all voters in queue finish voting, with voting set to begin after a break of around 30 minutes.
185,709 people voted as of 04:00 pm – making for 62.98 percent of total voter population.
This includes 92,567 women and 93,142 men.
Over 37 percent of eligible voters have yet to cast their ballots.
— Elections Commission (@ElectionsMv) April 4, 2026
Queues get longer as lastminute voters head to polling stations.
Voting has been extended to 05:00 pm.
EC said the decision was made in light of the warm weather and long queues.
މިއަދު ކުރިއަށްދާ ލޯކަލް ކައުންސިލްތަކާއި އަންހެނުންގެ ތަރައްޤީއަށް މަސައްކަތްކުރާ ކޮމިޓީގެ އިންތިޚާބު އަދި ރައްޔިތުންގެ ޚިޔާލު ހޯދުމުގެ ޢާންމު ވޯޓުގެ
— Elections Commission (@ElectionsMv) April 4, 2026
ވޯޓުލުން ހޫނުގަދަވެ، ކިއުދިގުވެ ގިނަބަޔަކަށް ވޯޓުލުމަށް ދަތިވެފައިވާތީ، ހަވީރު 5:00އާަ ހަމައަށް ވޯޓުލުމުގެ ވަގުތު އިތުުރު…
EC member Hassan Zakariyya told Sun that there are no plans to extend voting beyond 04:00 pm.
131,946 people voted as of 02:00 pm – making for 44.75 percent of total voter population.
This includes 63,175 women and 68,772 men.
Over 55 percent of eligible voters have yet to cast their ballots.
— Elections Commission (@ElectionsMv) April 4, 2026
EC member Hassan Zakariyya told Sun the commission has received several complaints, but none serious enough to suspect voting in any polling station.
Voters complain of the dust inside the heavily packed tent at the Henveiru Stadium, where a large number of ballot boxes are located.
Officials have begun watering the ground to alleviate the situation.
އިންތިޒާމު ހަމަ ބޮޑުތަނުން ސުމެއް! އަހަރެމެން ވޯޓުލާން ދާންޖެހުނު ހެންވޭރު ދަނޑުގައި ހުރި ޓެންޓުގެ ހާލަތަކީ މިއީ! މުޅިތާ ހިރަފުސް! ރޯގާ ނުޖެހިއްޖެއްޔާ ކިތަންމެހާވެސް ރަނގަޅު! https://t.co/ukR1y0O7Ox pic.twitter.com/lJad28Uw5O
— Dhivehi Archives by Naajih Didi (@NaajihDidi) April 4, 2026
There are traffic jams happening outside polling stations in Male’ where a large number of ballot boxes are located. This includes the Henveiru Stadium, located in the busy Majeedhee Magu.
Police report there was a disturbance at a polling station in the GDh. Gadhdhoo School, when a group of people, claiming the layout of the polling station was compromising secrecy of the vote, attempted to make changes to the voting booth.
Police said the disturbance has been resolved, and normalcy has been restored.
Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has cast his ballot in the ongoing elections.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, he encouraged everyone to exercise their right to vote freely.
“The Maldives is a democratic nation. Everyone can act within the law. I ask that everyone vote freely,” he said.
EC says that 62,083 people voted as of 12:00 pm – making for 21.05 percent of total voter population.
— Elections Commission (@ElectionsMv) April 4, 2026
Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef has cast his ballot.
Transparency Maldives has expressed concern that the lastminute changes to voting procedures announced by the EC, specifically on how voters can decline any of the three ballot papers issued, could affect the secrecy of the vote.
Transparency warns lastminute change to voting procedure may impact voter confidentiality https://t.co/oiuin54tKc #Transparency #VoterConfidentiality #MaldivesElections
— sun.mv (@sunbrk) April 4, 2026
EC says that 58,819 people voted as of 11:00 am – making for 19.95 percent of total voter population.
— Elections Commission (@ElectionsMv) April 4, 2026
Inmates vote in prisons.
އޮޕަރޭޝަން އިޚުތިޔާރު 2026: ކަރެކްޝަންސްގެ ޖަލުތަކުގައި "ލޯކަލް ކައުންސިލްތަކާއި އަންހެނުންގެ ތަރައްޤީއަށް މަސައްކަތްކުރާ ކޮމިޓީގެ އިންތިހާބު" އަދި "ރައްޔިތިންގެ ޚިޔާލު ހޯދުމުގެ ޢާންމު ވޯޓު 2026" އަށް ވޯޓުލުން ކުރިއަށް ދަނީ. @ElectionsMv pic.twitter.com/Ug9dmikRTC
— Maldives Correctional Service (@CorrectionsMv) April 4, 2026
Former President Mohamed Nasheed says he is happy to see polling going smoothly, and urged everyone to exercise their right to vote.
“We were able to campaign fairly and peacefully. I am glad to see democracy like this,” he said.
Police say polling is going smoothly, with no incidents so far.
???? ލޯކަލް ކައުންސިލްތަކާއި އަންހެނުންގެ ތަރައްގީއަށް މަސައްކަތްކުރާ ކޮމިޓީތަކުގެ އިންތިހާބު އަދި ރައްޔިތުންގެ ހިޔާލު ހޯދުމުގެ އާންމު ވޯޓުލުން އަމާންކަމާއެކު ކުރިއަށްދާކަން ކަށަވަރު ކުރުމަށްޓަކައި، ގއ. އަތޮޅުގެ ރަށްތަކުގައި ފުލުހުން ދަނީ ހަރަކާތްތެރިވަމުންނެވެ. pic.twitter.com/FsaB8NvgLF
— Maldives Police (@PoliceMv) April 4, 2026
Speaking to reporters after casting his ballot, former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih criticized the government and urged voters to think deeply before casting their ballot.
EC says that 41,162 people voted within the first two hours – making for 13.96 percent of total voter population.
— Elections Commission (@ElectionsMv) April 4, 2026
Speaking to reporters after casting his vote, former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom accused the Elections Commission of failure to properly raise public awareness on the referendum.
He also criticized the design of the ballot papers, calling it too complicated.
“We are all asking to allow as many people to vote as possible. But the Elections Commission has been very irresponsible in this,” he said.
Male’ City Mayor Adam Azim, who is running for re-election on behalf of MDP, has cast his ballot.
PNC’s Male’ mayoral candidate Moosa Ali Jaleel has cast his ballot.
EC announces that polling has begun at all polling stations.
Attorney-at-law and former Kendhoo MP Ali Hussain accuses EC of bowing down to government pressure to influence the referendum.
“You wouldn’t need to ask people who come to vote if they wish to vote or not, otherwise,” he said.
އިލެކްޝަންސް ކަމިޝަނުން ސަރުކާރު ބޭނުންވާ ގޮތަށް ރިފަރެންޑަމްގެ ވޯޓު ގެންދިއުމަށް މަސައްކަތް ކުރާކަން ފާޅުކަން ބޮޑުކޮށް ސާބިތުވެއްޖެ. އެހެން ނޫންނަމަ ވޯޓު ލާން ދާ މީހުންގެ ގާތުން އެ ވޯޓުގައި ބައިވެރިވާން ބޭނުންތޯ ނުވަތަ ނޫންތޯ އަހާކަށް ނުޖެހޭނެ.
— Ali Hussain (@AleeVoice) April 4, 2026
???? ލޯކަލް ކައުންސިލްތަކާއި އަންހެނުންގެ ތަރައްގީއަށް މަސައްކަތްކުރާ ކޮމިޓީތަކުގެ އިންތިހާބު އަދި ރައްޔިތުންގެ ހިޔާލު ހޯދުމުގެ އާންމު ވޯޓުލުން އަމާންކަމާއެކު ކުރިއަށްދާކަން ކަށަވަރު ކުރުމަށްޓަކައި، މާލޭގެ އެކި ސަރަހައްދުތަކުގައި ފުލުހުން ދަނީ ހަރަކާތްތެރިވަމުންނެވެ.
— Maldives Police (@PoliceMv) April 4, 2026
މުޖުތަމައުގެ… pic.twitter.com/i3jkbR9CKe
Polling has begun in 560 out of 588 ballot boxes, according to EC.
މިހާތަނަށް ޖުމްލަ 588 ފޮށީގެ ތެރެއިން 585 ފޮށީގެ ވޯޓުލުން ވަނީ ފެށިފައި.
— Elections Commission (@ElectionsMv) April 4, 2026
ވޯޓުލުން ނުފެށިހުރި މަރުކަޒުތަކަކީ، އެ މަރުކަޒަކަށް ވޯޓުލުން ފެށުމަށް ބޭނުންވާ އާންމުންގެ ދެމީހުން ހާޒިރުނުވާ ތަންތަން.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu arrived at the Thaajuddin School at around 08:50 am, to cast his ballots.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, he urged everyone to exercise their right to vote.
The Elections Commission (EC) has decided that voters who choose not to participate in any of the three votes being taken Saturday will not be issued the relevant ballot paper, sparking concern from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
“This party is concerned that all voters aren’t being issued ballot papers for all three votes being taken today. This is an attempt to compromise voter confidentiality,” reads a post by MDP on X.
MDP alleges the decision was made by the EC at the behest of the government to intimidate government employees, and violate their right to vote.
މިއަދު ނަގާ 3 ވޯޓުގެ ކަރުދާސް ކޮންމެ މީހަކަށް ދޫނުކުރުމަކީ މި ޕާޓީން ކަންބޮޑުވާ ކަމެއް.
— MDP Secretariat (@MDPSecretariat) April 4, 2026
މިއީ، ވޯޓުގެ ސިއްރުކަން ގެއްލުވައިލުމަށް ކުރާ ކަމެއް.
މި ކަމަކީ، ސަރުކާރު މުވައްޒަފުންނަށް ބިރު ދައްކައި، އެ މީހުންގެ ވޯޓުލުމުގެ ހައްޤަށް ހުރަސްއެޅުމަށް ސަރުކާރުން ބޭނުންވެގެން @ElectionsMv…
MDP has asked the EC to revise this decision.
294,876 people are eligible to vote in Saturday’s elections.
However, the polling stations do not have much of a queue at the moment.
Police have launched Operation Blue Ray to maintain security during the elections.
???? ލޯކަލް ކައުންސިލް އިންތިހާބާއި އަންހެނުންގެ ތަރައްގީއަށް މަސައްކަތްކުރާ ކޮމިޓީގެ އިންތިހާބާއި އާންމު ހިޔާލު ހޯދުމުގެ ވޯޓުގެ ސަލާމަތީ ކަންކަން ބެލެހެއްޓުމަށް ފުލުހުން ކުރިއަށް ގެންދާ " އޮޕަރޭޝަން ބްލޫ ރޭ" ރަސްމީކޮށް ފެށުުން
— Maldives Police (@PoliceMv) April 2, 2026
މިއަދު ހަވީރު އިސްކަންދަރު ބިލްޑިންގގައި ބޭއްވި… pic.twitter.com/zLqvJCXOXX
Polling is in progress without any incident so far.
Voters can check the polling station they are registered to by sending an SMS to:
VR (ID card number) to 1414
Polling has begun in stations across the Maldives at 08:00 am.