The Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM) has launched a nationwide recruitment campaign to staff polling centres for the upcoming Local Council Elections, which will be held concurrently with the Women’s Development Committee polls in March 2026. Applications must be submitted through the commission’s official online portal by 21 December.
The commission has confirmed that both elections are scheduled for late March 2026 and has already begun logistical preparations, including consultations with institutions and local councils to ensure operational readiness. Once recruitment is complete, selected personnel will undergo mandatory training sessions lasting more than two weeks, beginning on 10 January and concluding on 27 January, designed to equip officials with the skills required to administer polling stations and oversee election-day procedures.
The recruitment drive encompasses several designated roles essential to the conduct of the polls, ranging from Polling Station Managers and their Assistants to General Officials, Counting Officials, and Reserve Officials. A fixed wage structure has been established for these positions: Polling Station Managers will receive USD 188.12, Assistants USD 168.65, General Officials USD 149.29, Counting Officials USD 116.72, and Reserve Officials USD 64.86. In addition to these fixed rates, supplementary allowances have been arranged to cover food and tea, with overtime pay provided in accordance with working schedules.
To safeguard impartiality and independence in the electoral process, the commission has imposed strict eligibility requirements. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and must not hold senior positions within political parties. They are required to demonstrate non-involvement in campaign activities, ensuring neutrality in their official duties. Immediate family members of contesting candidates are prohibited from serving, and individuals who have applied to act as a candidate’s representative, observer, or monitor are likewise ineligible. Those currently serving sentences for criminal offences are also barred from consideration.