At stake in this Referendum:

• The office of the President of Maldives

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM *
• Head of Government: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM
• Assembly: Maldives has a unicameral People's Council (Majlis) with 50 seats.

* The president is both the chief of state and head of government.

Main provisions in the Referendum:

• Presidential Referendum The referendum asked voters whether incumbent President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM should be granted another five-year term as president.

Electoral Requirements

• The candidate nominated by the People's Council must secure a 51% approval in the national referendum in order to become President of the Maldives.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 304,000 (2003)
• Registered Voters: 148,271 (2003)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 150,708 (2003)

·         Is Maldives a signatory to CEDAW: No

·         Has Maldives ratified CEDAW: Yes, acession (1 July 1993)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: N/A

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 3 (following the 1999 parliamentary elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 104 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A

Disability Data:

·         Is Maldives a signatory to CRPD: Yes (2 October 2007)

·         Has Maldives ratified CRPD: Yes (5 April 2010)

·         Population with a disability: 45,600 (est.)