President Advocates Preferential Voting System to Abolish Second Round in Presidential Elections

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has reiterated his support for overhauling the current electoral system, advocating for the introduction of a preferential voting method to eliminate the need for a second round in presidential elections.

In a message shared on his newly launched WhatsApp channel — an initiative aimed at engaging more directly with the public — the president stated:

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“The type of voting system that I have been advocating for is the Preferential Voting system.”President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu

President Muizzu did not provide further details on how such a system would be structured for the Maldives, but his message follows a broader push for constitutional reform. Just days earlier, the president urged lawmakers to support proposed changes to the Constitution, including reforms to the electoral system. During a meeting with members of his party, the People’s National Congress (PNC), held at Muliage, he emphasised the need for a more efficient and cost-effective process.

One of the core elements of his proposal is to elect the president in a single round, using a ranked or preferential voting system. This system allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, reducing the likelihood of a runoff election by redistributing votes until a majority is achieved.

President Muizzu first brought up the idea in November last year, noting that the Attorney General’s Office was studying similar systems in other countries. He also stated that a preferential system could help lower the cost of elections and streamline the formation of government.

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail issued a strong response via X, criticising the government’s motives and warning of democratic backsliding.

“Electoral reform should not be an excuse to limit the voices of voters. In a small nation like ours, where votes are tallied in a day, the President-elect should be sworn in with a clear mandate from the majority of the voting population.”MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail

Electoral reform should not be an excuse to limit the voices of voters. In a small nation like ours where votes are tallied in a day, the President-elect should be sworn in with a clear mandate from the majority of the voting population. The government’s justification of such a…— Fayyaz Ismail (@faya_i) April 20, 2025

Echoing similar concerns, MDP President Abdulla Shahid warned that the proposed changes might lead to vote manipulation. 

“The current talk of changing the voting system is a conspiracy to manipulate votes by bringing boxes to Malé City.”MDP President Abdulla Shahid

ވޯޓުލާ ނިޒާމަށްބަދަލުގެންނަން މިހާރު ދައްކާ ވާހަކަ ތަކަކީ ވޯޓުގުނުން އެތައް ބުރަކަށް ދަންމާލާ، ފޮށިތައް މާލެގެނެސް ވޯޓު އޮޅުވާލުމަށް ރާވާ ރޭވުމެއް.

ވޯޓު ގުނަންވާނީ ވޯޓުލީ މަރުކަޒެއްގައި އެންމެންގެ ކުރިމަތީގައި.

ވޯޓުގެ 50% + 1 ( ވޯޓުލީ މީހުންގެ ސާފު އަޣްލަބިއްޔަތު )…— Abdulla Shahid (@abdulla_shahid) April 21, 2025

However, former President Mohamed Nasheed has come out in favour of the proposed shift. 

“I also think that the rule of forming a government that completes voting in a single round if it is with preferential votes is a good rule.”Nasheed remarked on X. 

Preferential vote aai eku nama eh burun vote laa ninmaa sarukaareh ufadhdhaa usoolakee rangalhu usooleh kamah alhugandu ves dheken.— Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) April 20, 2025

As of now, no legislation has been introduced to enact the proposed voting system, and the government has not outlined a concrete timeline. Nevertheless, President Muizzu’s advocacy signals a growing momentum toward possible electoral reform in the Maldives — one that could reshape how the nation elects its leaders in the future.