Maldives decides 2026: Polls open in local council elections and referendum

The Elections Commission (EC) has decided that voters who choose not to participate in any of the three votes being taken Saturday will not be issued the relevant ballot paper, sparking concern from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

“This party is concerned that all voters aren’t being issued ballot papers for all three votes being taken today. This is an attempt to compromise voter confidentiality,” reads a post by MDP on X.

MDP alleges the decision was made by the EC at the behest of the government to intimidate government employees, and violate their right to vote.

މިއަދު ނަގާ 3 ވޯޓުގެ ކަރުދާސް ކޮންމެ މީހަކަށް ދޫނުކުރުމަކީ މި ޕާޓީން ކަންބޮޑުވާ ކަމެއް.
މިއީ، ވޯޓުގެ ސިއްރުކަން ގެއްލުވައިލުމަށް ކުރާ ކަމެއް.
މި ކަމަކީ، ސަރުކާރު މުވައްޒަފުންނަށް ބިރު ދައްކައި، އެ މީހުންގެ ވޯޓުލުމުގެ ހައްޤަށް ހުރަސްއެޅުމަށް ސަރުކާރުން ބޭނުންވެގެން @ElectionsMv…

— MDP Secretariat (@MDPSecretariat) April 4, 2026

MDP has asked the EC to revise this decision.

294,876 people are eligible to vote in Saturday’s elections.

However, the polling stations do not have much of a queue at the moment.

Police have launched Operation Blue Ray to maintain security during the elections.

???? ލޯކަލް ކައުންސިލް އިންތިހާބާއި އަންހެނުންގެ ތަރައްގީއަށް މަސައްކަތްކުރާ ކޮމިޓީގެ އިންތިހާބާއި އާންމު ހިޔާލު ހޯދުމުގެ ވޯޓުގެ ސަލާމަތީ ކަންކަން ބެލެހެއްޓުމަށް ފުލުހުން ކުރިއަށް ގެންދާ " އޮޕަރޭޝަން ބްލޫ ރޭ" ރަސްމީކޮށް ފެށުުން

މިއަދު ހަވީރު އިސްކަންދަރު ބިލްޑިންގގައި ބޭއްވި… pic.twitter.com/zLqvJCXOXX

— Maldives Police (@PoliceMv) April 2, 2026

Polling is in progress without any incident so far.

Voters can check the polling station they are registered to by sending an SMS to:

VR (ID card number) to 1414

Polling has begun in stations across the Maldives at 08:00 am.