Maldivians living abroad will be able to exercise their franchise outside the country for the first time in this year’s presidential election, the Elections Commission (EC) has announced.

Ballot boxes will be placed in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Singapore to allow the Maldivian expatriates to vote in the nation’s first multi-party polls, due by 10 October. Estimates suggest this could enable an additional 14,000 Maldivians to vote.

But at home, citizens may be unable to vote, if they fail to register on the island where they plan to vote, according to a mandate issued by the EC.

The Maldivian Elections Commission, now consisting of five independent members, said conditions for choosing the locations included a large Maldivian population, a Maldivian High Commission, and direct flights from the Maldives.

Trivandrum in India, Colombo, Colombo in Sri Lanka, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, and Singapore satisfied those requirements.

Elections Commissioner Mohamed Ibrahim said in a Friday television broadcast, "We’ve got a short period before elections and we have to be prepared for a second round as well, so we found the best four places."

The expatriate Maldivian populations in Trivandrum and Colombo are estimated at between 5,000 and 6,000, while 2,500 to 3,000 Maldivians live in Malaysia and 500 to 1,000 in Singapore. Most are believed to be students.

Mohamed Tholal, assistant Director General of the Elections Commission said expatriates’ voting would not delay the announcement of election results.

"Temporary results will be announced after the votes are counted by staff from the Maldives High Commissions and officials sent by the Commission," he said.