The Elections Commission (EC) has announced arrangements for the upcoming local council and women’s development committee elections scheduled for April 4, including the placement of 621 ballot boxes nationwide.

According to the EC, 321 ballot boxes will be placed across Male’, Hulhumale’ and Villimale’ to serve residents of Male’ City, Kulhudhuffushi City, Fuvahmulah City, Thinadhoo City and Addu City. Another 321 ballot boxes will be placed in the atolls. In addition, three ballot boxes will be set up at industrial installations, five in prisons, 50 in resorts and two abroad.

The elections will cover 225 constituencies. Detailed information on ballot box locations will be published in the Government Gazette and on the EC website, with further details available through the EC’s official online platforms.

The EC stated that 294,937 people are eligible to vote in the elections, including 144,527 women and 150,410 men. The voters list has been published, and the commission has opened a window for submitting complaints. The list will be accessible on the EC website, the Gazette and at council offices of inhabited islands and cities, except Male’ City.

Voters can check their registered voting location and ballot box by sending their ID number to 1414 via SMS. Complaints regarding the voters list can be submitted through the EC’s My Portal before 3 pm on Sunday, the 18th of this month. Any request for changes must be supported by official documents. Political parties are required to submit complaints through the Simedha portal.

Under the permanent constituency delimitation, 626 councillors will be elected to island councils and 52 to city councils. Three councillors, including a president and one female councillor, will be elected in 133 islands, while 46 islands will elect five councillors, including a president and two female councillors. City council seats include seven councillors each for Kulhudhuffushi and Thinadhoo, nine for Fuvahmulah, 11 for Addu City and 18 for Male’ City.