North Hithadhoo By-Election Begins as 4,121 Voters Head to Polls

Voting commenced Saturday morning in the parliamentary by-election for the North Hithadhoo constituency, following a Supreme Court ruling that unseated the previous representative. The Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM) opened polls at 8 a.m., with voting scheduled to conclude at 4 p.m. A total of 4,121 eligible voters are registered to participate in the contest. To ensure sufficient coverage, the commission printed 4,154 official ballot papers. The voting process is being conducted across two primary hubs using seven ballot boxes. In the capital city of Malé, two ballot boxes are stationed at the Dharumavantha School south building. The remaining five boxes are located at Hithadhoo School in Addu City, distributed across the school hall and designated classrooms to streamline the flow of voters. To maintain the integrity of the electoral process, the ECM has implemented strict security regulations. Voters are permitted to bring only a blue-ink pen and a valid form of identification, such as a national identity card, passport, passport card, or driver’s licence. Handbags, files, and any audio or video recording devices are strictly prohibited inside polling centers. The race is a contest between two prominent figures: Ahmed Saeed, representing the ruling People’s National Congress, and Abdulla Sodiq of the Maldivian Democratic Party. The seat became vacant after the Supreme Court ruled that the previous representative, Mohamed Sinan, was ineligible to hold office. The court found that Sinan, who was elected in 2024, held an outstanding judgement debt and had failed to make payments in accordance with a prior legal mandate.