Elections Commission (EC) has extended voting hours in the Hithadhoo North parliamentary by-election by one hour, allowing voters to cast their ballots until 5pm.

Polling began at 8am and was initially scheduled to close at 4pm.

However, EC later announced that voting would continue until 5pm.

According to the latest figures released by the commission, voter turnout had reached 70 percent by 4pm.

A total of 2,899 people had cast their ballots by that time, including 1,551 women and 1,348 men.

The Hithadhoo North constituency has 4,121 eligible voters, comprising 2,073 women and 2,048 men.

Five polling stations have been established at Hithadhoo School for voters in the constituency. Eligible voters residing in Male' can cast their ballots at two polling stations set up at Dharumavantha School.

The vote was triggered after the Supreme Court ruled that former PNC MP Ahmed Sinaan had lost his parliamentary seat in connection with a loan repayment case.

The by-election is being contested by candidates from the ruling People's National Congress (PNC), Ahmed Saeed (Soda) and the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Abdulla Sodiq (Soabe).