Maldives to hold presidential election on Sept. 23

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The Maldivian Elections Commission announced on Friday that the presidential election of the island country will be held on September 23 this year.

The commission also requested the government to declare September 23 as a special day.

Elections Commissioner Ahmed Shareef said the poll day falls on Sunday and all political parties must make necessary arrangements.

File photo: The incumbent Maldives President Abdulla Yameen visits the Presidential Palace in New Delhi on January 2, 2014 .

Filing of nominations will open from July 15 to July 27 while listing the final candidates will be held on August 9.

Shareef said the Elections Commission had already started compiling the voters registry and identifying locations to place ballot boxes.

The location of ballot boxes will be officially announced next month.

The ruling Progressive Party of Maldives said last month that the party's presidential candidate for the upcoming election will be incumbent President Abdulla Yameen.

Former home minister Umar Naseer has announced his intention to stand for the election and has already launched his campaign as an independent candidate.

Former President Mohamed Nasheed also applied to contest the election, but his nomination was rejected by the commission as he faces terrorism charges.

Maldives' former president Mohamed Nasheed speaks during an interview in Colombo, Sri Lanka June 4, 2018. /VCG Photo

The Elections Commission said last month that anyone convicted of a criminal offence could not legally contest in a political party's presidential primary, warning that such elections would be annulled.

(Top image: File photo: A Maldivian voter casts her ballot at a polling station in Male, Maldives on November 9, 2013.)

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency