Parliament has confirmed Mohamed Zahid as Chairman and Abdul Rahman Salah Rashid as Deputy Chairman of the Elections Commission (EC), following their nomination by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu on February 10.

The Independent Institutions Committee endorsed them without interviews, as Parliament had already approved them. Zahid received 68 votes, and Salah got 69.

Zahid, formerly Vice Chairman of the Human Rights Commission, now leads the EC. Salah, previously the commission’s director and acting secretary, takes the Deputy Chairman role. Both joined the EC as members on January 26.

Last year’s amendments to the Elections Commission Act now allow the President to appoint the Chairman and Deputy Chairman with parliamentary approval. Previously, commission members chose these roles internally.

The Elections Commission, established under the 2008 Constitution, oversees elections, political party registrations, and referendums. Its five members are Dr Mohamed Zahir, Hassan Zakaria, Abdul Haseeb Ismail, Mohamed Zahid, and Abdul Rahman Salah Rashid.