The Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM), represented by its Secretary General, Mr. Abdulla Unais, participated in the Regional Conference on Overseas Voting 2026, held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 1–2 September 2026. The conference was organized by the Election Commission of Sri Lanka in collaboration with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and brought together representatives of election management bodies and other relevant stakeholders to exchange experiences, practices, and perspectives on overseas voting.

 

The conference provided a platform for participants to examine various approaches to overseas voting (OCV), while considering practical experiences, operational challenges, and the institutional and administrative requirements associated with the design and implementation of OCV arrangements. In this regard, the conference facilitated substantive discussions on country-specific practices, lessons learned, and approaches that may be adapted to different electoral contexts.

 

As part of the conference, the Secretary General Mr. Unais served as a panelist in the session titled “Regional Reflections: Lessons, Insights and Shared Questions from EMBs.” The session provided an opportunity for representatives of election management bodies to share experiences and reflect on key lessons, implementation considerations, adaptable approaches, and country-specific challenges relating to overseas voting. Moreover, the exchange of perspectives contributed to a broader understanding of common challenges and potential approaches to the effective administration of OCV arrangements.

 

In addition to the panel session, Mr. Unais also participated in the official inauguration of the conference and the multi-stakeholder dialogue on overseas voting. These engagements further provided an opportunity to interact with representatives of election management bodies and other stakeholders, exchange institutional perspectives, and gain further insight into the practical and administrative considerations associated with the development and implementation of overseas voting mechanisms.

 

Overall, the participation of the ECM in this conference provided valuable comparative insights into overseas voting practices and the institutional, operational, and administrative considerations involved in implementing OCV arrangements. Furthermore, the engagement served to strengthen professional networks and promote the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and good practices among election management bodies and other electoral stakeholders.

 

In this broader context, the ECM continues to attach importance to participation in international and regional electoral forums as a means of enhancing professional knowledge, strengthening institutional cooperation, and gaining insight from the experiences of peer election management bodies. Such engagements contribute to the Commission’s continued efforts to strengthen institutional capacity, promote the exchange of electoral expertise, and further enhance the administration of electoral processes.