The Elections Commission (EC) has decided to hold the elections for the vacant council seats on July 20th.

Some council members across the country contested the elections for the 20th Parliament and won, effectively leaving their seats vacant. Those members are:

- Lh. Atoll Council President

- F. Bileiydhoo Council President

- Kulhudhuffushi City Council Member (Kulhudhuffushi North Constituency)

- R. Hulhudhuffaaru Council Member

- Male' City Council Member (Hulhumale' Constituency)

- Male' City Council Member (Macchangoalhi Central Constituency)

- Male' City Council Member (Henveiru West Constituency)

- R. Rasmadhoo Council Member

The deadline for contesting the elections expires on June 14, the EC said. Voting will be held from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm on July 20 and the official results will be announced on July 22.

The nomination forms and the schedule containing the important dates of the elections are now available at www.elections.gov.mv.

Requirements for a candidate for local council elections:

- Be a Maldivian citizen

- Not be a foreign citizen

- If a foreign citizen has become a Maldivian citizen, 5 (five) years have passed since the person became a Maldivian citizen

- Be a Muslim and a member of the Sunni community

- Be 18 (eighteen) years of age

- Be of sound mind

- If a person has a proven debt to be paid, he must be paying that debt in accordance with the judgment

- Not be convicted of any criminal offense and serving a sentence

- Not be convicted of sexual assault or rape of a child

- If the person has been convicted of a drug trafficking offense and sentenced, 7 (seven) years have passed since the conviction was completed or 7 (seven) years have passed since the sentence imposed by the conviction was pardoned

- If the person is convicted of a criminal offense other than the offenses mentioned in paragraphs (9) and (10) and sentenced to a term of imprisonment of more than 12 (twelve) months, 3 (three) years have passed since the execution of the sentence (Three) years have passed