Parliament's first-ever electronic petition system launched

Parliament has launched its first-ever electronic petition system, the E-Petition Portal, in a move intended to digitalize parliamentary processes and strengthen public participation in the democratic system.

According to the Parliament, the portal establishes a fully digital petition system, enabling citizens to submit and monitor petitions online. Signatures and submissions will be verified through the national digital identification platform, eFaas. The system reduces the requirement for a lawmaker’s sponsorship, broadens access for Maldivians residing in remote islands, and introduces varying thresholds that trigger specific legislative actions.

Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla said the introduction of the e-petitions system marks a significant milestone in the digitalization of democratic participation.

“The introduction of the e-petitions system marks a significant milestone in the digitalisation of democratic participation, serving as a vital bridge between citizens and the Parliament,” he said.

With the launch of the portal, the Maldives joins Pakistan and Thailand as the only countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia to operate an electronic petitioning system linked to parliament.

The Parliament developed the portal in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Maldives, with support from the Governments of the United Kingdom and Australia.