President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has issued a Presidential Decree calling for a public referendum to determine whether Presidential and People’s Majlis elections should be held at the same time.
The move follows the passage of a constitutional amendment Bill by the People's Majlis on 10 February 2026 during the second sitting of its first session for the year. The proposed amendment seeks to allow both elections to be conducted concurrently and to specify the commencement date of the parliamentary term.
As the proposed changes involve amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Maldives, they must be approved through a public referendum before the President can ratify them. Article 262(b) of the Constitution states that a constitutional amendment passed by Parliament requires approval by a majority of votes cast in a public referendum.
Under Section 31 of Law No. 2025/15, if the majority of voters support the amendment, the President is required to ratify the Bill and publish it in the Government Gazette within fifteen days of the official announcement of the results. If the proposal fails to secure majority support, it will be rendered void.
According to the Decree, voters will be asked the following question:
“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?”
The referendum has been scheduled for Saturday, 4 April 2026, and will be held on the same day as the Local Council and Women’s Development Committee elections.
The Elections Commission of the Maldives has been instructed to take the necessary steps to organize and conduct the referendum in accordance with the law.
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