Maldives Sets April 4 Date for Local Council and WDC Elections

The Election Commission of Maldives has confirmed that local council and Women's Development Committee elections will take place on April 4 across 226 constituencies nationwide. The elections will determine representatives for both local governance bodies and women's development initiatives throughout the Maldives. To ensure smooth polling operations, over 7,000 officials will be deployed to election stations nationwide. Prospective election officials must submit applications through the e-pass system on the my.elections.gov portal by 3:00 pm on December 21. The commission has also begun recruiting staff for the 2026 local council and WDC elections, with positions available in Human Resources, Administration, Media, Public Relations, Information Technology, Finance, and Legal departments. Ahead of the April elections, the ECM is launching an extensive public awareness campaign. Throughout November and December, teams will visit 36 islands across 12 atolls to conduct educational sessions about voting procedures and electoral importance. These efforts will be supported by independent institutions and private associations. The commission plans to use various media platforms to disseminate election information and encourage voter participation, ensuring citizens across the archipelago understand their voting rights and responsibilities.