The Election Commission of Maldives (ECM) has formally urged to expedite the issuance of the required Presidential decree authorising the referendum at the earliest, after the passage of the proposed legislative amendments to merge the nation’s presidential and parliamentary elections.
In a detailed briefing to the Parliamentary Independent Institutions Committee reviewing the government proposed constitutional amendment, ECM Chairman Mohamed Zahid emphasised the urgency of initiating the referendum process, citing legal timelines and the need for comprehensive public awareness.
Under current law, a minimum of 45 days must elapse between the announcement of a referendum and the voting date, Zahid noted, underscoring that administrative preparations are already in place to conduct the vote concurrently with the upcoming local council elections scheduled for early April.
Zahid stressed the transformative impact of merging the two national elections, calling it a pivotal moment for Maldives’ democratic landscape.
“The two elections combined will bring about quite a big change in the democratic environment in Maldives,” he said, stressing that the Presidential decree needs to be issued by 18 February.
To ensure informed public participation, the ECM is preparing an extensive public awareness campaign, set to launch as soon as parliamentary debate on the constitutional amendment begins. Additionally, election officials are undergoing specialised training to manage the logistical and procedural complexities of a combined electoral event, he explained
The ECM estimates that holding a standalone referendum would cost between USD 3.9 million and USD 5.2 million. However, conducting the vote alongside the April local council elections would cost only USD 1.3 million for the referendum component, a comparatively efficient use of resources that would streamline the electoral process.
The ECM Chairman reiterated that early action by the government—specifically, the prompt passage of the constitutional amendment and the subsequent issuance of the presidential decree—is critical to meeting constitutional deadlines to hold the referendum and ensuring transparency.