7,400 referendum voting documents still uncollected

A total of 7,400 referendum voting documents remain uncollected.

The Electoral Commission yesterday morning also stated that 4,700 people had not collected their local councils document.

Chief Electoral Commissioner Carmel Degabriele told The Sunday Times that the figure of uncollected referendum voting documents was roughly similar to the total uncollected documents for general elections.

There are 118,000 persons registered to vote in the local elections and 298,000 to vote in the referendum.

The two main political parties have however filed court applications to disenfranchise certain individuals from voting.

The voting documents can still be collected in person until Thursday from the Electoral Commission at Evans Building (ID card office) in Valletta upon presentation of the identity card.

Mr Degabriele said the commission was bracing itself for a tough week; no fewer than 872 people have been engaged to oversee the process of the two elections.

Mr Degabriele said the referendum result should be officially known by Sunday afternoon or evening. However the political parties should have a clear indication which way the vote is going by early morning.

Votes cast in the local elections will not begin to be counted before Monday.

This is the first time that two major ballots will be held simultaneously but the results of the referendum will take precedence so as not to leave the country in suspense.

Mr Degabriele said the political parties were recently summoned for a meeting with the commission to ensure agreement over the verification of votes. He said he expected much bickering, though, over dubious votes, especially since the Labour Party has urged the electorate to invalidate their vote, stay at home, or vote No on Saturday.