Addu holds referendum to decide on separate councils

An elderly man casts his vote at a polling station in Male' during the Addu jurisdictional referendum on October 25, 2025. (Photo/PSM)

The residents of three districts of Addu – Feydhoo, Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo - are voting in a referendum on Saturday to decide whether they want to be governed by separate local councils.

Voting in the referendum to determine the jurisdictional composition of Addu City Council began at 08:00 am.

Over 9,000 people are 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 have been kept in Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo, and five in Feydhoo. Meanwhile, seven more ballot boxes have been kept at the Kalaafaanu School in Male’ City for voters who reside in the capital.

Voting closed at 04:00 pm, and counting is set to begin 30 minutes later.