The Election Commission (EC) has officially opened the application process for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

The Election Commission gazetted an announcement today saying that nominations will be open from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm every day except Sunday. Applications will be accepted from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Sunday.

Requirements for candidates running for parliament:

- Being a Maldivian citizen

- Not be a citizen of a foreign country

- Be a Muslim and a member of the Sunni community

- Be 18 (eighteen) years of age

- Being of sound mind

If a foreign citizen has become a Maldivian citizen, they can run for Parliament after completing five years of becoming a Maldivian citizen. The person must be a resident of the country.

The parliamentary elections are scheduled for March 17. The Election Commission has earlier said that arrangements are being made to avoid long queues as the day falls in the middle of Ramadan.