4,121 people eligible to vote in North Hithadhoo by-election

The Elections Commission (EC) has released the final voters’ list for the upcoming by-election for the North Hithadhoo parliament seat.

The seven lists released separately by the EC on Monday shows that total 4,121 people are eligible to vote in the election.

The by-election is scheduled for June 6.

The EC will be installing seven ballot boxes for the vote; five in Addu City and two in Male’ City.

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) had petitioned the EC to have a polling station set up in Hulhumale’, citing the high number of Addu constituents who reside there.

But when questioned regarding this, the EC told Sun that as per its policies regarding by-elections, the commission will not be keeping ballot boxes anywhere else except for the main polling station in Male’ and designated polling stations in the respective island or city.

The North Hithadhoo seat was previously filled by Mohamed Sinan (Sina), a politician from the ruling People's National Congress (PNC), who lost it on April 12, after losing a Supreme Court case filed over a declared debt.

Sodiq secured the MDP ticket after running uncontested in the party’s primary, while Saeed had lost the PNC primary to Sinan, but got the ticket after the former lawmaker decided to bow out of the election.