The Election Commission (EC) has accepted the candidacies of 1,556 candidates for the 2026 local council elections so far.
The EC said a total of 1,865 candidates had submitted nomination papers for city and island council elections as of yesterday, under the Local Councils Election Act and the Decentralization of Administrative Areas Act. Of these, 1,366 were candidates representing political parties, while 496 contested as independents.
Among party candidates, 1,197 nominations were accepted, while 169 were initially rejected for various reasons. However, 163 of those candidates have since resubmitted their forms with amendments. Meanwhile, 140 independent candidacies were rejected, with 123 of those candidates resubmitting their applications.
For the Women’s Development Committee elections, 1,948 candidates have submitted nominations so far, including 1,216 from political parties and 332 independent candidates. Of the party nominations, 1,091 were accepted and 125 rejected, with 118 resubmitted. Out of 91 rejected independent candidates, 74 have resubmitted their applications.
The EC said nominations were mainly rejected due to incomplete criminal and debt record forms, failure to disclose relevant details, or the non-submission of required criminal records by the Maldives Correctional Service.
The deadline for nominations is 3:30 p.m. today. The local council and Women’s Development Committee elections are scheduled to be held in April 2026.
The EC said a total of 1,865 candidates had submitted nomination papers for city and island council elections as of yesterday, under the Local Councils Election Act and the Decentralization of Administrative Areas Act. Of these, 1,366 were candidates representing political parties, while 496 contested as independents.
Among party candidates, 1,197 nominations were accepted, while 169 were initially rejected for various reasons. However, 163 of those candidates have since resubmitted their forms with amendments. Meanwhile, 140 independent candidacies were rejected, with 123 of those candidates resubmitting their applications.
For the Women’s Development Committee elections, 1,948 candidates have submitted nominations so far, including 1,216 from political parties and 332 independent candidates. Of the party nominations, 1,091 were accepted and 125 rejected, with 118 resubmitted. Out of 91 rejected independent candidates, 74 have resubmitted their applications.
The EC said nominations were mainly rejected due to incomplete criminal and debt record forms, failure to disclose relevant details, or the non-submission of required criminal records by the Maldives Correctional Service.
The deadline for nominations is 3:30 p.m. today. The local council and Women’s Development Committee elections are scheduled to be held in April 2026.
