Voter turnout low at just 17% in Addu referendum

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

The referendum to decide whether three districts of Addu – Feydhoo, Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo - want to be governed by separate local councils produced a voter turnout of just 17 percent with four hours left until polling closes.

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

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

Over 9,576 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

According to information released by the Elections Commission (EC), 1,661 voters – 872 men and 789 women - cast their ballots by 12:00 pm.

This makes for a voter turnout of 17.35 percent.

Voters outside a polling station in Male' during the Addu jurisdictional referendum on October 25, 2025. (Sun Photo/Ahmed Firyal)

82.6 percent of eligible voters or 7,915 people have yet to cast their vote.

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.