Complaint filed with EC alleging fraud in Thinadhoo population list

A complaint has been submitted to the Elections Commission (EC) alleging major irregularities in the population list compiled by Thinadhoo Council, which is being used to determine constituencies for the upcoming local council elections.

The EC recently published its provisional list of constituencies and opened the window for complaints. Based on the population figure of 10,150 people submitted by Thinadhoo Council, the commission has allocated a mayor and six council members, including two seats reserved for women, in line with the Decentralization Act.

Under the law, a population of 10,000-30,000 qualifies an island for city status. Below 10,000 does not.

The Department of National Registration (DNR), however, lists Thinadhoo’s population at 8,194. A separate case previously filed by a private party is already seeking to revoke Thinadhoo’s city status on this basis.

According to the letter of complaint submitted to the EC, Thinadhoo’s 2023 population list prepared by the council contains widespread inaccuracies. The complainant alleges that:

The complainant further stated that both their own and their mother’s names were found registered in two constituencies, and that police are already investigating the issue.

The letter claims that approximately 2,200 people who are not actual residents of Thinadhoo have been included, significantly inflating the population figure used by the EC.

The complaint warns that if the upcoming council elections proceed on the basis of the disputed list, “one person may end up voting in two constituencies,” and even deceased individuals could appear as voters.

The letter also argues that the EC cannot responsibly determine council seats or constituencies without first verifying the population data submitted by councils, calling the current situation a threat to “responsible democracy.”

The complainant urged the EC to base its administrative boundary decisions on the DNR population list, not the council’s.

In addition to Thinadhoo, the cities of Male', Addu, Fuvahmulah, and Kulhudhuffushi all have populations above 10,000. The EC has already begun preparations for local council elections scheduled for April next year.