EC: Seats of 5 atoll councils need vote of entire atoll

Elections Commission (EC) has announced that council members for five atoll councils needed to be elected not just by the individual vote of relevant constituencies, but through the vote of the entire atoll.

Member of EC, Ahmed Akram reported that the change was due to an amendment to law on local council elections by People’s Majlis.

The amendment requires votes from the whole atoll for each atoll which has less than three constituencies.

The five atolls with less than three constituencies are:

1. A. A. Atoll

2. V. Atoll

3. M. Atoll

4. F. Atoll

5. Dh. Atoll

“This wasn’t decided by EC. This is the amendment brought to law by People’s Majlis,” said Akram.

He added that EC was working on raising public awareness over the amendment to law regarding the elections.

“We want to tell the people that we will be providing information regarding the council elections via the media. It’s very important that each and every citizen is fully informed,” said Akram.

Local council elections are scheduled for January 14, 2016.