The Election Commission (EC) has announced the recruitment of over 7,000 officials for the upcoming local council and Women's Development Committee elections, scheduled for March 28, 2026.
Details of allowances for polling officials were also released:
Polling station chief: MVR 2,900  
Chief’s assistant: MVR 2,600  
Polling station staff: MVR 2,300  
Counting officer: MVR 1,800  
Reserve officer: MVR 1,000  
In addition to base pay, officials will receive meal and tea allowances, along with overtime compensation based on working hours.
Interested candidates must apply via the EC’s online portal using a verified e-pass account. Only PDF files are accepted for document uploads, and applicants can track their submission status through the portal.
Elections Commission (EC) staff during the election: EC seeks over 260 staff for local council and WDC elections. (Sun Photo/Mohamed Shaathiu Abdulla)
 Eligibility criteria:
Must be 18 years or older  
Cannot hold a senior position in any political party  
Must not be involved in campaign activities  
Cannot be a candidate’s family member, representative, observer, or monitor  
Must not be serving a criminal sentence  
Applications close at 15:00 on December 21.
EC President Ismail Zahid estimates the total cost of the elections will range between MVR 70–80 million.