Applications have been opened for individuals who wish to re-register to vote at a location other than their currently registered permanent address for the Local Council and Women's Development Committee (WDC) elections scheduled for April 4.

The Elections Commission (EC) announced yesterday that the opportunity to re-register for a different location or island for the 2026 Local Council and WDC elections will be available from 10:00 AM today until 3:00 PM next Monday.

During this period, re-registration applications will only be accepted from those who wish to vote at a location different from where they were registered for the most recent Parliamentary Elections.

"Individuals who were registered to vote at resorts, industrial islands, prisons, or abroad during the Parliamentary Elections will now find their registered voting location reverted to their permanent address in the voters' registry for this election," the EC clarified.

Re-registration requests must be submitted online through the EC's 'Re-registration Portal' or 'My Portal'.

When submitting forms via the 'Re-registration Portal', applicants are required to provide a copy of a valid official identification document and a recent photograph. However, the EC noted that those using 'My Portal' must do so via a verified eFaas account, in which case a photograph or ID card copy will not be required.

Voters can verify their current registration status via SMS or through the commission's online registration portal.

For further information regarding re-registration, the public can contact the hotline at 1414. The EC has also arranged for assistance to be provided at its main office or the Election Center during official hours for those needing help with the online process.

A total of six political parties are contesting these elections, where 626 village councilors and 52 city councilors will be elected. An equal number of members will be elected to the Women's Development Committees.

A total of 294,937 individuals are eligible to vote in these two elections, comprising 144,527 women and 150,410 men. The EC intends to publish the final voters' list following the conclusion of the re-registration process.

Additionally, applications are now open for those interested in serving as election observers and monitors. The draw to determine the candidate numbers for the Local Council and WDC elections is scheduled for next Thursday.