The main opposition parties, MDP and The Democrats have begun voting for the parliamentary primaries.

Voting for the MDP and The Democrats' primaries also started at the same time. The two parties are running separate primaries, with voting taking place from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

149 candidates are contesting the MDP parliamentary primary. Voting will be held in 38 constituencies. Ballot boxes will be set up in 95 islands, while 27 ballot boxes will be set up in the city. 25,325 people are eligible to vote in the MDP parliamentary primary.

No candidates are contesting on the MDP ticket in South Feydhoo, Fuvahmulah, Thimarafushi, Nilandhoo, Mulaku, Felidhoo, and Eydhafushi. MDP however has said that it has no intention of leaving the constituencies to other parties.

The MDP parliamentary ticket has been confirmed for 48 candidates without a primary. Among them, 20 members of the MDP parliamentary group have been confirmed.

They are:

- Ahmed Saleem, Hoarafushi constituency

- Mohamed Arif, Ihavandhoo constituency

- Mohamed Raee, Makunudhoo constituency

- Ali Riza, Milandhoo constituency

- Mohamed Shahid, Funadhoo constituency

- Ahmed Fathih, Holhudhoo constituency

- Ismail Ahmed, Dhuvaafau constituency

- Mohamed Shafeeq, Thulhaadhoo constituency

- Jeehan Mahmood, Hinnavaru constituency

- Ibrahim Ameer, Thulusdhoo constituency

- Ali Ameez, Maamigili constituency

- Ikram Hassan, Dhiggaru constituency

- Iyas Ismail Latheef, Meedhoo constituency

- Hassan Shinan, Guraidhoo constituency

- Hussain Aboobakr, Fonadhoo constituency

- Yauqoob Abdulla, Dhaandhoo constituency

- Ahmed Saeed, Gemanafushi constituency

- Sayyah Khaleel, Kolamaafushi constituency

- Ahmed Gais, North Thinadhoo constituency

- Ahmed Zain, Faresmaathodaa constituency

- Ahmed Saeed Mohamed, Gadhdhoo constituency

- Hussain Mohamed Didi, Central Fuvahmulah constituency

- Mohamed Aslam, North Hithadhoo constituency

- Ibrahim Nazil, South Hithadhoo constituency

- Ibrahim Ali Jaleel, Central Henveiru constituency

- Hussain Shaheem, South Henveiru constituency

- Mohamed Ibrahim, North Galolhu constituency

- Meekail Ahmed Naseem, South Galolhu constituency

- Liraam Waheed, North Machangolhi constituency

- Abdulla Sinan, South Machangolhi constituency

- Mohamed Falah, West Maafannu constituency

- Ahmed Amir, Central Maafannu constituency

- Hassan Iyad Saleem, South Maafannu constituency

- Akram Kamaluddin, Central Machangolhi constituency

- Kanditheemu constituency – Ameen Faisal

- Inguraidhoo constituency – Saleem Hussain

- Kurendhoo constituency – Ali Niyaz

- Huraa constituency – Shathir Abdul Rahman

- Dhangethi constituency – Rugiyya Mohamed

- Mulah constituency – Moosa Shiyam Abdulla Ali

- Gan constituency – Abdulla Shareef

- Gemanafushi constituency – Ahmed Saeed

- Gadhdhoo constituency – Ahmed Saeed Mohamed

- North Henveiru constituency – Ibrahim Muizzu

The Democrats have also decided to contest 93 seats in the parliamentary elections. However, they did not contest the primaries in some constituencies. The party's primaries will be held in only two constituencies.

The Democrats have announced that 46 candidates have filed their nominations in 41 constituencies. More than one candidate has contested in two constituencies. Hence, primaries are being held only for South Henveiru and South Hulhumale' constituencies.

Those who won The Democrats ticket without a primary include several incumbent MPs. They include Central Henveiru MP Ali Azim, North Galolhu MP Eva Abdullah, North Maafannu MP Imthiyaz Fahmy, West Henveiru MP Hassan Lateef and MP Ibrahim Rasheed.

The Democrats opened the nomination process on Thursday for constituencies where there were no candidates to contest the parliamentary primary. If more than one candidate expresses interest in the constituencies, the party council will determine who will contest on the party ticket. The Democrats said the decision was made because there was no time to open a competitive primary.