Only 21 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots by 1:00 pm in the referendum to divide Addu city council.

According to figures from the Elections Commission (EC), 9576 people are eligible to vote, but only 2,097 voted by 1:00 pm.

Voting began at 8:00 am and will end at 4:00 pm.

This is a referendum to decide whether Feydhoo, Meedhoo and Hulhudhoo want to separate from the Addu city council.

Voting will be held in Addu and Male'. Seven polling stations have been set up in Male', three in Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo and five in Feydhoo.

According to the latest census, there are 35,359 Maldivians registered in Addu. The resident population of the southern city is 25,062. They are 20,000 Maldivians and 5000 foreigners.

Feydhoo has a high population with over 5,800 people registered to the island. The combined population of Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo is 6,845.

The EC said the vote will be valid even if there is a low turnout.

A referendum was held in Addu on October 9, 2010, to see whether the atoll should be declared a city.

More than 21,000 people were eligible to vote, but the turnout was exceptionally low, with only 4,706 votes.

The turnout was only 21 percent of the eligible population. But the city council was formed with 54 percent of those who voted.