Call for registration arrangements

Alternattiva Demokratika has expressed satisfaction at the issue of guidelines by the Electoral Commission for Maltese voters living in EU countries who would like to vote in the forthcoming European and local elections.

It however called on the commission to make the necessary arrangements under which these voters would be able to register as voters without having to travel to Malta.

AD general secretary Stephen Cachia raised the issue in a letter addressed to the commission after an advert was published in the local press which "gave the impression" that these voters would have to travel to Malta to register as voters.

Such a condition would effectively disenfranchise all those voters who were unable to travel to Malta, he said, adding that expecting these voters to travel to Malta twice in such a short timeframe was an added burden on them.

The commission should also consider the fact that the notice was issued as late as March 6, which could lead to a situation where such voters were effectively discouraged from exercising their democratic rights.