The voting phase of a historic referendum to determine the future administrative structure of three islands in Addu City concluded on Friday afternoon, with election officials now engaged in the critical process of counting ballots.
The poll, which opened at 8:00 am on Friday sought the views of residents on the islands of Feydhoo, Hulhudhoo, and Meedhoo regarding a proposal to form separate, independent councils detached from the central Addu City Council.
The Election Commission of Maldives (ECM) has confirmed that all polling stations have been closed and that the count is officially underway. ECM officials are working diligently with the goal of announcing provisional results by 9:00 pm, a decision that will shape the administrative landscape of the southernmost atoll.
This referendum was initiated after residents from the three islands formally requested President Dr Mohamed Muizzu to allow them to separate from the main city council. The move prompted a presidential decree under the recently enacted Public Referendum Act, which highlighted that such a significant legal and administrative change could only be enacted following a referendum by the affected populace.
The President has publicly committed to respecting the outcome, stating his administration will support any decision made by the people.
In outlining the potential financial implications of a vote for separation, the President announced that the islands would receive substantial annual block grants - Feydhoo would be allocated USD 3.2 million, Hulhudhoo USD 907,911and Meedhoo USD 1.2 million.
The vote revisits a long-standing debate over local governance where in a 2010 referendum on maintaining Addu as a single city, the same three islands had voted against the consolidated city model, signaling a historical inclination toward greater autonomy.