At Stake in this Election: 

In April 2026, voters in the Maldives are deciding whether they approve of a constitutional reform that would provide for convening of presidential and parliamentary elections on the same day. A yes vote would also shorten the term of the sitting parliament (the People’s Majlis) in order to effect this change and synchronize elections.

• Referendum text in Original Dhiveli:

ރިޔާސީ އިންތިޚާބާއި ރައްޔިތުންގެ މަޖިލީހުގެ އިންތިޚާބު އެކުގައި ބޭއްވުމަށާއި، ރައްޔިތުންގެ މަޖިލީހުގެ އުމުރު ގުނުމުގެ އުސޫލު ބަޔާންކުރުމަށް ޓަކައި، ރައްޔިތުންގެ މަޖިލީހުން ފާސްކުރައްވައިފައިވާ ޤާނޫނުއަސާސީއަށް 8 ވަނަ އިޞްލާޙު ގެނައުމުގެ ބިލު" ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ ތަޞްދީޤުކުރެއްވުމަށް ފެނޭ ހެއްޔެވެ؟ 

• Referendum text in English (Informal Translation): “Do you approve the ratification of the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution, which provides for the Presidential and People’s Majlis elections to be held concurrently and for a change to the term of the People’s Majlis?” 

Government Structure: 

• Chief of State: President Mohamed MUIZZU (since 17 November 2023) 

• Head of Government: President Mohamed MUIZZU (since 17 November 2023) 

• Assembly: unicameral, 93-seat People’s Majlis  

Electoral System: 

• The President is directly elected via simple majority system in two rounds if needed. The President serves a 5-year term and is limited to two terms, consecutive or not.  

• Members of the People’s Majlis are directly elected from single-seat constituencies to serve 5-year terms. 

Last Election: 

The last referendum was held on October 17, 2003. The referendum asked voters if the incumbent President should be granted another five-year term. 90.28% of voted in favor and 9.72% voted against. Voter turnout was 77%.  

Information for Voters: 

Referendum (in English) 

New/Unique in this Election: 

This is the first referendum the country has held since 2003.  

Country Context: 

• Population: 527,799 (2024 est.) 

• Registered Voters: 284,663 (2024 est.) 

• V-Dem Electoral Democracy Index Score: 0.564 (2024) 

• V-Dem Regimes of the World Classification: Electoral Democracy (2024) 

• Human Development Index (HDI) Position: 0.766, High, Rank 93 

Gender Data: 

• Female Population: 200,994 (2024 est.) 

• CEDAW Status: Ascended 1 July 1993 

• Gender Quota: No legislated or voluntary quotas. 

• Female Candidates in this election: N/A 

• Number of Female Legislators (pre-election): 3 out of 93 (3.2%) 

• Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: n/a 

Disability Data: 

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

• Projected population with a disability: 84,448 (2024 est.)