Parliament today voted to accept the Public Referendum Bill and has forwarded it to the Committee on Independent Institutions for review.

The bill was submitted on behalf of the government by ruling People's National Congress MP Ibrahim Falah (Inguraidhoo).

It was accepted through 62 votes in favour, with no votes against.

The bill was proposed as President Dr Mohamed Muizzu recommends changing the Presidential oath taking ceremony to be shifted from November 17 to November 11, hold the presidential and parliamentary elections in tandem and to introduce a preferential voting system where a President is elected in the first round of voting.

The President announced in last year's Republic Day ceremony that he intends to hold a public referendum on the matter.

As per the bill, public referendums will be held on amendments to the fundamental rights and freedoms granted in the Constitution, changes to the parliamentary term, changes to the presidential term, changes to how presidential elections are conducted, ratification of bills and matters pertaining to the Maldives' territory.

In the instance that a President sends back without ratification a bill of amendments to the Constitution passed by parliament, the parliament should then initiate a public referendum on the matter.

A public referendum on a national issue may be held only if the President deems it necessary or is obligated to seek public opinion, in which case a formal resolution must be issued. Additionally, the parliament is required to pass a resolution should it determine that a referendum is warranted.

Such a resolution can instruct public referendums to be held on more than one issue, the bill further states.

The bill mandates the Elections Commission to implement the public referendums. All Maldivians aged 18 and above can vote in these referendums.