| Legal Framework |
|---|
| Electoral Law | 20 July 1961 Parliamentary Election Act (Act No. 2/2009) |
| Mode of designation | directly elected 85 |
| Constituencies | 85 single-member constituencies |
| Voting system | Majority: First-past-the-post system. Voters vote for only one candidate. Vacancies between legislatures are filled in by-elections. No by-elections are to be scheduled, however, within six months of general elections. Voting is not compulsory. |
| Voter requirements | - Citizenship of the Maldives - Age: 18 years or over |
| Candidates |
|---|
| Eligibility | - Qualified voters - Citizenship of the Maldives (Persons who acquired Maldivian citizenship five years prior to the election date and who are domiciled in the Maldives may contest the elections) - Age: 18 years or over - Sunni Muslim - Persons of sound mind Disqualifications: - Judges - Persons holding another citizenship - Persons convicted of a criminal offense and serving a sentence of more than 12 months (this disqualification is valid during the term of the sentence and for three years thereafter) - Persons not discharged from bankruptcy |
| Incompatibilities | - Ministers of State - Members of the Electoral Commission - Civil servants - Executive of a public corporation - Members of the armed forces - Members of the police forces - Holders of any other public posts |
| Candidacy requirements | - Candidates can be put forward by a political party or be independent. - Independent candidates must be supported by at least 50 eligible voters in the constituency in which they are running. - Deposit of 5,000 rufiyaa |