Local council elections to see 550 fewer members

Elections Commission (EC) has announced that the number of councilors to be elected in next year’s local council elections will be reduced by 550 compared with the 2020 polls.

Under the previous law, islands with populations below 3,000 elected five councilors, while those above that threshold elected seven. However, an amendment proposed by ruling People's National Congress (PNC) parliamentary group leader and Inguraidhoo MP Ibrahim Falaah reduces the number to three councilors for islands with populations under 2,000.

Islands with populations larger than 3,000 will elect five councilors. Of these, one must be a woman in three-member councils, while two women are required in five-member councils in islands with population size exceeding 3,000.

As a result, 681 councilors will be elected in the local council elections scheduled for 4 April next year. A further 681 members will be elected to women’s development committees across the islands, bringing the total number of elected representatives to 1,362.

The EC said the changes would result in 550 fewer elected members compared with the 2020 local council elections, including 301 fewer councilors.

In the 2020 elections, 982 councilors were elected to local councils and 930 members to women’s development committees, a combined total of 1,912 elected representatives.

Under the revised structure, the Malé City Council will consist of 16 members, down from the current 19. Addu City Council will comprise eight councilors in addition to the mayor, while the same structure will apply to Fuvahmulah City Council, which has eight wards.

Although the amendment does not explicitly state the number of councilors for Addu City, Thinadhoo City and Kulhudhuffushi City councils, their population sizes indicate that each council will consist of seven councilors and a mayor.