With voting nearing end, 64 percent have not voted in 3 islands

The Elections Commission (EC) has announced that so far, 72 percent of eligible voters have not cast their ballots in the referendum to determine whether separate councils should be established for Hulhudhoo, Meedhoo, and Feydhoo in Addu City.

According to statistics released by the EC, as of 3:00 PM today, only 3,410 people had voted across the three islands. The EC noted that 6,116 people have not voted, which accounts for 64.39 percent of those eligible to vote.

Individuals at the polling stations in Feydhoo, the most populous of the three islands, reported that only about 500 people have voted there so far. In Malé, where ballot boxes are placed for residents from the three islands, approximately 1,200 people had voted by around 3:20 PM.

Turnout has not been particularly high even in Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo, where the vote was reportedly most heated.

With voting hours about to close, those in the area who support the current city council structure believe that people are not turning out to vote because opposition parties are working to prevent people from voting, even in the final moments.

"People who told us they would vote for the city council have been saying 'we're coming' since 11:00 AM. It feels like they were bought with money at the last minute," said a person outside Feydhoo School.

Another person suggested that some people are not voting because they support the current city structure. He also mentioned that not enough time was given to raise awareness about the vote, and therefore, people who support the city council are not aware of the importance of voting.

"I believe some people who support the city are not coming out to vote because they think that if fewer people vote for the establishment of separate councils, it won't happen. That's why this vote is being held with little time and without proper awareness."

Ibrahim Didi (IB), MP for Feydhoo Dhekunu constituency, who supports the establishment of a separate council for Feydhoo and is a leading figure in the campaign, said the low voter turnout is due to the public's dissatisfaction with the services received under the existing city council structure.

"Some people are saying they don't care whether there is a city council or a separate councils. The reality is that the people are very disappointed with the services they received under the city council structure," he said.

IB stated that the high turnout in presidential, parliamentary, and council elections is often due to people voting for family and friends.

"That's why there is such excitement in those elections. In this election, people keep saying they will come later. I believe a good number of people will come out later in the evening."

A total of 18 vote boxes were placed in for this vote. This includes three boxes in Hulhudhoo, three in Meedhoo, five in Feydhoo, and seven boxes in Kalafaanu School in Malé for residents of the three islands living in Malé.

The number of people voting in the Malé boxes is also low.

A total of 9,576 people are eligible to vote in the three islands in this referendum.