Hirimaradhoo residents to vote for Hanimaadhoo council

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has issued Presidential Decree on the designation of inhabited islands of the Maldives, to provide for the resettlement of residents of Hirimaradhoo to Hanimaadhoo in Haa Dhaalu atoll.

The amendment enables the determination of the electoral constituency of Hirimaradhoo residents for the Local Council Elections and Women’s Development Committee Elections 2026, scheduled to be held on 4 April 2026.

As the resettlement process will be ongoing during the election period, Section 8(h) of the Elections General Act (Act No. 11/2008) applies. The provision states that when residents of an island are in the process of being resettled to another island, they shall be considered electors of the island to which they are being resettled.

The decree designates Hanimaadhoo as the electoral constituency for residents of Hirimaradhoo, allowing the Elections Commission to prepare the voters’ registry based on this designation.

The amendment was made under the authority granted to the President under Section 134(a) of the Decentralization Act (Act No. 7/2010).

Once the resettlement process is completed and Hirimaradhoo residents are officially registered in Hanimaadhoo, Hirimaradhoo will be declared an uninhabited island. The updated list of inhabited islands has been published in the Government Gazette.

The amendment will come into effect on the date the government officially announces the completion of the resettlement and registration of Hirimaradhoo residents in Hanimaadhoo.