More than 24,000 people voted by 9 am in the parliamentary elections underway today.
According to statistics shared by the Elections Commission (EC), a total of 24,703 people cast their ballots in the first hour after polls opened at 8 am for the People's Majlis elections.
The early voters included 7,803 women and 16,900 men, representing 8.68 percent of eligible voters.
Voting to elect the 20th People's Majlis will take place from 8 am to 5:30 pm.
Speaking to reporters after voting this morning, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu called on the public to turn out and vote early without waiting for the late afternoon. Voting is a constitutional right and duty for all citizens, he said.
"What I want to say to all citizens is for everyone to come out and exercise the right to vote as early as possible, that it is the responsibility of citizens to go to their polling stations and vote without waiting for the evening," he said.
MPs will be elected to a total of 93 constituencies in the parliamentary elections, with 368 candidates contesting from parties and as independents.
A total of 602 ballot boxes have been set up for the election with 241 in the Male' area and 34 in resorts. Some 284,663 people are eligible to vote.
