Counting begins in Addu referendum marred by low voter turnout

Electoral officials guide voters at a polling station in Male' during the Addu jurisdictional referendum on October 25, 2025. (Sun Photo/Ahmed Firyal)

The counting has begun as polls closed on Saturday in a referendum to decide whether three districts of Addu – Feydhoo, Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo - want to be governed by separate local councils instead of the Addu City Council.

Voting in the referendum to determine the jurisdictional composition of Addu City Council began at 08:00 am, and closed at 04:00 pm.

Electoral officials began counting the votes 30 minutes after polls closed.

The referendum was marred by a low voter turnout, with the turnout at just 35 percent an hour before polls had been set to close.

However, Elections Commission (EC) deputy chairperson Abdul Rahman Solah Rasheed told RaajjeTV that he remained hopeful the turnout would rise to at least 50 percent with the help of last-minute voters.

9,576 people were eligible to vote in this referendum. This includes:

4,355 voters from Feydhoo
2,874 voters from Hulhudhoo
2,347 voters from Meedhoo

Three ballot boxes were kept in Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo, and five in Feydhoo. Meanwhile, seven more ballot boxes were kept at the Kalaafaanu School in Male’ City for voters who reside in the capital.