At Stake in this Election: 

• The Presidency of the Maldives 

The first round was held on 9 September 2023. 

Government Structure:  

• Chief of State: President Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH (since 17 November 2018) 

• Head of Government: President Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH (since 17 November 2018) 

• Assembly: unicameral People’s Assembly (ރައްޔިތުންގެ މަޖިލިސް) with 87 seats 

Electoral System:  

• The President is directly elected by absolute majority vote in up to two rounds and serves up to two 5-year terms. 

• In the People’s Assembly, 87 members are directly elected by plurality vote in single-seat constituencies. Members serve 5-year terms. 

Last Election: 

In 2018, Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH (MDP) won the presidency in a single round, earning 58.82% of the vote and defeating Abdulla YAMEEN (PPM). Voter turnout was 89%. 

Key Deadlines: 

• Candidate filing deadline: 3 August 2023 

• Voter registration deadline: N/A; voter registration is passive. 

• Voters can request changes to their registered polling location until 17 September 2023. 

Main Candidates in this Election: 

• Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH 

• Maldivian Democratic Party/ ދިވެހިރައްޔިތުންގެ ޑިމޮކްރެޓިކް ޕާޓީ (MDP) 

• Incumbent 

• Mohamed MUIZZU

• People’s National Congress / ޕީޕަލްސް ނޭޝަނަލް ކޮންގްރެސް  (PNC) 

Population and Registered Voters: 

• Population: 389,568 (2023 est.) 

• Registered Voters: 282,395 (2023) 

Gender Data: 

• Female Population: 189,111 (2023 est.) 

• CEDAW Status: Ratified (by accession) 1 July 1993 

• Gender Quota:  No 

• Female Candidates in this election: No 

• Number of Female Legislators (pre-election): 4 out of 87 (4.6%) in the People’s Assembly  

• Human Development Index (HDI) Position: 0.747, High, Rank 90 (2021)  

• Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Not available  

Disability Data: 

• CRPD Status: Signed 2 October 2007, Ratified 5 April 2010 

• Projected population with a disability: 58435 (2023 est.) 

IFES Resources: 

• Does IFES have a presence in the Maldives: Yes 

• Election Access: Yes 

• Election Judgements: Yes, 1 judgment and 3 resources