Maldivians have begun voting in the Local Council Election and the Women's Development Council Election, as well as the Public Referendum on holding the Parliamentary and Presidential Elections concurrently.
Voting began at 08:00 across the country.
The Elections Commission stated that there are 294,876 eligible voters for the elections, which includes 144,506 women and 150,370 men.
The Elections Commission has placed 588 ballot boxes across the country, including 240 in the Greater Male' area and 347 in the Atolls.
It also said that 2,961 candidates are competing in the Local Council and Women's Development Council Elections. It further stated that there would be 6,581 Commission officials at the voting stations and that more than 8,000 monitors and observers have registered for the three elections.
This is the first time three elections would be held concurrently in the Maldives. The Commission had previously said that all voters would be given all three ballots at the station, but said last night that the voters were now allowed to choose which election he/she want to vote in.
The Commission further said that if the voter rejects a certain ballot, it would be announced at the polling station to maintain transparency.
