Voting in the internal election to fill the vacant Chairperson position of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) began today at 2:30 p.m.

Contesting for the post are former President Mohamed Nasheed and Meekail Ahmed Naseem, the Member of Parliament for Galolhu South.

A total of 50,176 members registered with the MDP are eligible to vote in the election.

Voting is taking place at 241 polling stations across the Maldives, covering all inhabited islands. Overseas voting arrangements have been made only in Sri Lanka.

The MDP has announced that polling will continue until 8:30 p.m. tonight.