22 March 2014, Male';Voting at the 18th Parliamentary elections in the Maldives has begun this morning at 0730 hrs. Voters will elect members to the national parliament, which is the Peoples Majlis. The Majlis has a total of 85 members. All major political parties in the Maldives, including the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), the Jumuhooree Party (JP), and Adhaalath Party have fielded candidates in the elections. A total of 302 candidates, including 114 independents, are contesting for the 85 seats in the Majlis.
According to the Elections Commission of the Maldives, there are 240,652 eligible voters registered in this election. A total of 473 ballot boxes have been placed for this Election, including 3 ballot boxes placed abroad. Polling will continue till 1600 hrs or when everyone who had lined up to vote before 1600 hrs finishes voting.
The People's Majlis was first convened in 1932.
ENDS.