EC commence efforts to extend candidacy submission timeframe for presidential election

Elections Commission (EC) has commenced efforts to extend the candidacy submission timeframe for presidential elections from 10 days to 14 days.

EC’s Vice President Ismail Habeeb Abdul Raheem told Sun that the bill to amend the Presidential Elections Act has been submitted to the Attorney General’s Office (AG Office) – which has now submitted the bill to the Parliament.

He added that the Parliament’s Committee on Independent Institutions has held meetings with EC’s members regarding the bill.

The present law dictates the candidacy submissions must be made from July 23^rd to August 3^rd. Habeeb expressed hope that the law can be amended before April. The change will likely reflect on the date which has already been announced for the election.

Habeeb also efforts were underway to gazette the presidential elections’ regulation before registration works.

EC said that the presidential election 2023 will be held on September 9. A second round, if necessary, will be held on September 30. A budget of MVR 90 million has been allocated for the election.