Administrative work for Addu Council referendum complete

The Elections Commission (EC) stated last night that administrative preparations regarding the Addu Council compilation referendum have just about finished.

EC President Mohamed Zahid said last night on PSM's Raajje Miadhu program that the draft for the voters list for the Saturday vote has been published, the opportunity to submit complaints has been opened and preparations for the registration of observers and monitors have been finished.

Zahid also said that they are currently working on printing the ballot papers, acquiring the ballot boxes to be sent to Addu and acquiring various other things.

"All preparations are just about complete. We hope to finish everything within the next two days, with all administrative work being completed. It can be said that administrative preparations are pretty much completed," said Zahid.

The re-registration process for the referendum came to a close yesterday evening. Zahid stated that 255 people submitted for re-registration, with re-registration processes being completed for 248 individuals.

As per Zahid, with that amount of people re-registering, there is a warm reception towards the opinion poll.

"It is apparent from the re-registering as to the interest the residents of Hulhudhoo, Meedhoo and Feydhoo have regarding this matter," said Zahid.

According to the list of registration locations published by the EC, 4,355 people from Feydhoo, 2,874 from Hulhudhoo, and 2,347 from Meedhoo are eligible to vote.

President Muizzu had amended the questions on 12th October regarding the opinion poll whether three Addu islands should have separate councils via a resolution.

The question regarding whether Addu Hulhudhoo and Addu Meedhoo should be jointly governed under a single body, the Addu Hulhumeedhoo Council, was omitted via the first resolution. Under the new resolution, the opinion poll will see whether residents want a separate council for all three islands, namely Hulhudhoo, Meedhoo and Feydhoo.

The opinion poll will have three ballot boxes in Hulhudhoo, three ballot boxes in Meedhoo and five ballot boxes in Feydhoo. Residents of these islands who reside in Male' will get to vote in Male', with seven ballot boxes to be set up.