Voting begins in Hithadhoo North parliamentary by-election
A total of 4,121 voters are eligible to cast ballots in the by-election.
Voting has begun in the parliamentary by-election for the Hithadhoo North constituency seat in the People's Majlis.
The seat became vacant after the Supreme Court ruled that former member Mohamed Sinan of the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) had lost his seat due to a failure to settle a debt established through a court judgment.
Two candidates are contesting the by-election:
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Ahmed Saeed, representing the PNC and a former local councillor.
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Abdulla Sodiq, representing the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and former Mayor of Addu City.
Elections Commission Vice President Abdul Rahman Salah Rashid said voting commenced at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday across all seven ballot boxes designated for the election.
Polling will continue until 4:00 p.m.
A total of 4,121 voters are eligible to cast ballots in the by-election.
The ballot boxes have been placed at two locations:
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Dharumavantha School in Malé – two ballot boxes.
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Hithadhoo School in Addu City – five ballot boxes.
Sodiq secured the MDP ticket without a primary after no other candidates sought the party's nomination.
On the PNC side, Ahmed Saeed participated in the party primary, which was won by Sinan before he lost his parliamentary seat. Following Sinan's decision not to contest the by-election, the PNC selected Saeed as its candidate, citing insufficient time to hold another primary election.
The by-election will determine who fills the Hithadhoo North seat in Parliament for the remainder of the current term.
