The vote counting process, which started this evening at the new counting hall in Naxxar, is a complicated one spelt out in detail in the General Elections Act.

The ballot boxes are closed sealed while in the polling stations by the assistant commissioners and the party representatives, using the official and the party seals, and the boxes are then transported in buses or vans under escort of the police and the party representatives.

Each ballot box is checked in at the counting hall and commission officials make sure that the ballot paper account tallies with the declared number of voting documents returned by the assistant commissioners.

The seals are then broken and the votes in each box are counted face down to ascertain that their number corresponds to the ballot paper account.

Once the ballot papers in the box and the ballot paper account tally, the ballot papers are put together in parcels of 50 and placed in a pigeon hole indicating the number of the ballot box. Should the accounts not tally, the matter is referred to the Commission which will consult the political parties,

Once all the ballot boxes have been opened and reconciled with the relative ballot paper account, the Electoral Commission will officially declare the number of votes cast.

The ballot papers will then be turned face up and the sorting according to the candidates starts. The commission has said this process will start at about 10.30 a.m. on Sunday. The ballot papers will be sorted according to the first preference given to each candidate and placed in bundles of 50.

Dubious votes, which are ballot papers which are not clearly, or wrongly marked, will be placed separately for consideration by the commissioners.

The quota for the election of candidates in each district is established by the Electoral Commission which will divide the total number of valid papers in each district by six (five candidates plus 1) The result, increased by one, shall be the quota.

Once a candidate attains the quota and is elected, his surplus votes will be transferred to the continuing candidates according to the second preference given by the voters.

At the end of each count, when no candidate has a surplus, the candidate with the smallest number of votes will be eliminated and his votes transferred according to the second or subsequent preference to the continuing candidates until five candidates are elected form each district.