Elections Commission (EC) has decided to revise the Presidential Elections Act to increase the application deadline for presidential election candidates.

EC's Vice President Ismail Habeeb informed the Parliament's Committee on Independent Institutions that EC is in discussions to revise the Act before April 2023.

"We are hopeful to make the revision by end of April. The revision needs to be gazetted before end of April so we can begin the elections works on 2 May," Ismail Habeeb said.

The revision will allow candidates a 14-day period to submit their applications to elections as opposed to the 10-day period currently allowed.

Speaking to press on the works being done by EC to prepare for the elections, EC President Fuad Thafueeq stated that applications will be opened for candidates from July 23 to 3 August 2023.

Timeline of Presidential Elections 2023:

  • Announcement of candidate names - 9 August
  • Elections campaign period - 10 August - 8 September
  • First round of polls - 9 September
  • Announcement of temporary poll results - 9 September
  • Final results of first round will be announced within 7 days
  • Second round of polls (if needed) - 30 September
  • Voters registry announcement - 2 May
  • Complaints against registry - 2 May - 2 June
  • Observers and Monitors application - 25 July - 13 August
  • Training for Trainers - 16 July - 13 August
  • Officials training programme - 20 - 29 August
  • Re-registration period - 16 July - 5 August
  • Application as representatives - 10 - 17 August