Residents of three districts in Addu City Feydhoo, Hulhudhoo, and Meedhoo are voting in a referendum today to decide whether they want to form separate local councils instead of being governed under one city council.
Voting began at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday and will continue throughout the day. A total of over 9,000 people are eligible to vote in the referendum. This includes 4,355 voters from Feydhoo, 2,874 from Hulhudhoo, and 2,347 from Meedhoo.
To ensure easy access, three ballot boxes have been placed in Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo each, and five in Feydhoo. Additionally, seven ballot boxes have been set up at Kalaafaanu School in Malé for Addu residents living in the capital.
Currently, Addu City is administered by a single city council that governs all six islands, including Hulhudhoo, Meedhoo, and the four connected islands.
Today’s referendum will determine whether Feydhoo, Hulhudhoo, and Meedhoo will break away from the central Addu City Council and form independent island councils.
According to the government, the vote is being held in response to official proposals submitted to President Mohamed Muizzu by these islands, requesting the creation of separate councils.
