Polls have opened for the By-Election of Shaviyani Atoll Komandoo Constituency, with ballot boxes in three of the islands and capital city.

The Elections Commission of the Maldives (EC) revealed that voting will proceed from 8:00am till 4:00pm. However, after 3:00pm only people who are positive to Covid-19 or are in quarantine will be able to vote as the time slots have been designated for them.

The Elections Commission also revealed that there are 3,309 eligible voters in Komandoo, Maroshi, and Foakaidhoo. These are all of the constituents who turned 18 years old by February 5th.

There are two ballot boxes placed in each of the three islands of the constituency, along with three ballot boxes in the capital city which are placed at Iskandhar School.

The by-election saw three candidates competing for the vacant seat at the Palriament; ruling MDP's Mohamed Rashid, opposition PPM's Moosa Fathuhee and newly formed MNP's Hannan Idrees.

Elections Commission also further revealed that as many people as possible will be allowed to witness the counting of the ballots, depending on capacity at polling centers. Priority will be given to the candidates and their representatives as well as political leaders and media personnel.

The Komandoo parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of MDP MP Hussain Waheed, who died after a year-long battle with cancer last year.