Voting has commenced in Addu City for the public referendum on the composition of Addu City Council.

The referendum seeks public opinion on whether separate councils should be established for Feydhoo, Hulhudhoo, and Meedhoo.

According to the Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM), polling began this morning at all designated stations across Addu City. Voting will continue until 4:00 p.m. today.

As of 9:00 a.m., 3.34 per cent of eligible voters had cast their ballots, amounting to 320 individuals, including 108 females and 212 males, with 9,256 voters yet to vote.

A total of 9,576 people are eligible to vote in the referendum. The ECM has set up 18 polling stations in Feydhoo, Hulhudhoo, Meedhoo, and Malé. This includes five stations in Feydhoo, three each in Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo, and seven in Malé.

The commission stated that 2,835 people have registered to vote in Feydhoo, 1,242 in Hulhudhoo, and 1,618 in Meedhoo, while 3,881 voters are registered at the polling stations in Malé.

Polling stations will close their queues at 4:00 p.m., after which vote counting will begin 30 minutes later. Provisional results will be announced at each polling station once counting concludes, while the final results are scheduled to be announced tomorrow.