The Election Commission of Maldives (ECM) has launched an urgent series of awareness sessions across Addu City ahead of the landmark referendum this Saturday.
The vote will determine the administrative future of three provincial wards—Meedhoo, Hulhudhoo, and Feydhoo—regarding their separation from the jurisdiction of the Addu City Council.
With the vote just days away, the ECM is focusing on ensuring logistical clarity, noting that the vote process is different from typical national elections.
ECM’s Assistant Director Vishah Saeed confirmed to PSM News that comprehensive awareness campaigns are underway via social media, supplemented by targeted physical sessions for the voting communities.
"We have already conducted an awareness session for Feydhoo, Meedhoo and Hulhudhoo voters living in Male’. A special session will be held in the three islands simultaneously on Thursday night," Vishah explained, confirming that ECM staff are actively traveling to Addu City to educate the public on the specifics of the ballot.
This landmark referendum involves a significant portion of Addu City’s populace. According to the ECM, a total of 9,576 people are on the permanent list of eligible voters in these three wards including the 255 individuals who took the opportunity to re-register their polling location during the registration window.
Polling arrangements are being finalised across the three islands included in the vote, with ballot boxes also being set up in Malé City to accommodate registered voters.
The ECM has strongly urged all citizens involved in the referendum to acquire complete information before casting their ballot. Voters have also been reminded to verify the island where they are registered to vote and confirm their assigned polling station. The commission also specified that voters who failed to re-register before the deadline will automatically be transferred back to their permanent address used during the last parliamentary elections.