The President’s Office declared on Saturday that Sunday and Monday are official holidays due to the three elections taking place across the country today.

The President’s Office explained that the decision was due to many government employees being involved in election duties today, leading the Elections Commission (EC) to request a government shutdown for the following two days.

The President’s Office refers to the EC, noting that the Commission will continue handling essential election-related duties until Monday.

On Saturday, Maldivians took part in local council elections, elections for the women’s development committee (WDC), and a referendum on merging presidential and parliamentary elections.

Even with a large portion of eligible voters taking part, many people encountered significant challenges due to the intense heat affecting the Maldives.