PL proposes embassy voting for Maltese abroad

George Pisani

Jan 24th 2009, 04:39

I do agree with a lot who commented on this article, I also disagree with some.
My family migrated to Australia in the 60's, I DO NOT KNOW ANY MALTESE POLITICIANS, so how can I vote?
I have not paid any taxes in Malta!
Yes I am a Maltese Citizen and proud of it, but I will never vote in Maltese election unless I have lived in Malta for at least two years.
As for the article 'eligible' Maltese should have the right to vote wherever they are!
Voting in Australia is compulsory! All Australians must vote, penalty for not voting is $2000.00/six months jail or both. Australians who are away from they ‘district’ in or out of the country can vote by ‘POSTAL VOTE’ ‘ABSENTEE VOTE’ at any Australian Post Office or if overseas at Embassies, High Commission or Consulate around the world. If we can do it here, why can’t you do it there.
All Maltese need to forget their political party loyalty and start being loyal to MALTA!!!!!

Charles DeMicoli

Jan 24th 2009, 00:53

This will be the first step. The next step will be to open the process to the MTB's - Maltin ta' Barra. I know, I know, this suggestion/prediction will rub some the wrong way, especially those with a strong siege mentality. Anybody holding a legitimate Maltese passport should have a right to vote, no matter where he/she lives, no matter how long.

J.Borg

Jan 23rd 2009, 20:15

@ P.Aquilina
ithink you didn't read the article correctly:
The announcement was made in a letter which PN General Secretary Paul Borg Olivier wrote to the Chief Electoral Commissioner.
So PL writing to the electoral comissioner isn't Ok but if it is the PN who is writing it's ok for you....

Michael Agius

Jan 23rd 2009, 19:29

Denis Catania et all, do you pay Maltese taxes?' No taxation without representation' should work the other way as well.

Adrian Wirth

Jan 23rd 2009, 19:10

No voting system is 100% perfect however well it is designed to suit the social /cultural mores of society. There's risk say that within the asian, afro-carribean or other socio-religious communities of the UK that 'influences' from numerous sources might be exerted, family, tribal, religious are all potential risks however the process needs be designed to minimise that risk. There are signs that with the maturing of our democratic process some of the perceived domestc and social voting pressures are perhaps somewhat exagerated and one trusts that as we further mature politically that parties will come to see and agree excessive votor lobbying practices are something of the past.

P Aquilina

Jan 23rd 2009, 19:01

@ J BORG

IM AFRAID YOU DID NOT BOTHER TO READ (OR PERHAPS DID NOT BOTHER TO UNDERSTAND) THE PN STATEMENT ISSUED TODAY.

MLP HAD WRITTEN TO THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION TO START THE DISCUSSIONS BUT MLP KNEW THAT THE COMMISSION CANNOT CHANGE THE ELECTORAL LAWS.. THIS HAS TO BE DONE BY THE LEGISLATIVE BODY...

THEREFORE: BY WRITING TO ELECTORAL COMMISSION LABOUR WAS SIMPLY PROCRASTINATING....

THE PN IS SEEKING THE RIGHT WAY HOW TO DO IT: ASKING FOR THE ELECTORAL LAWS TO BE AMENDED

THE PN WAY IS THE WAY HOW THINGS SHOULD BE DONE!!

FOR YEARS HUNDREDS OF MALTESE CITIZENS STUDYING OR WORKING ABROAD HAD TO HASSLE THEMSELVES TO COME OVER TO MALTA AND VOTE

ALL THIS BECAUSE LABOUR VOCIFEROUSLY OPPOSED SUGGESTIONS PUT FORWARD BY THE PN FOR THEM TO VOTE FROM THE MALTESE EMBASSIES IN THEIR COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE

NOW, FINALLY, LABOUR HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THEIR RIGHTS...FINALLY AND ABOUT TIME TOO!!

Chris Borg

Jan 23rd 2009, 18:51

So there are accusations of corrupt practices taking place in Malta during election day, just imagine what would happen if there were ballot boxes in all the different embassies. Why should a missionary or whoever else who have been leaving abroad for decades vote in a Maltese election?

@Adrian WIrth: don't you think there might be abuses with it, such as interference from family members?

Labour, iddahlux il-lifgha f'hobbkom, twaqqghux il-gebla fuq saqajkom, dan kollu biex tidhru sbieh.

Nicola Montebello

Jan 23rd 2009, 18:44

I remember at least two occasions when the PN suggested that Maltese who are abroad during an election vote in Maltese embassies, and the MLP came out vehemently against this proposal. After rejecting this proposal at least twice, the MLP now came out in favour. Hope they keep agreeing with what widens the right to vote for all of us who engage in temporary voluntary work abroad.

J.Borg

Jan 23rd 2009, 18:43

@ P.Aquilina.....
NOW, FINALLY, AFTER THE PN PROPOSED THAT THE MALTESE ATHLETES........
Have you started reading newsapers from today.........the PL and AD have already written to the electoral commission about this outcome.
How come you say this is a PN proposal......
This is good to be done and hope that it is done as it should be without any hanky panky!!!!!

Jimmy Magro

Jan 23rd 2009, 18:40

Jan Markham
It would be better if you answer these questions first:

1. how and when did you get Maltese citizenship?

2. how much taxes you pay to the Malta Government?

3. how many days of residence you stay in Malta in the 18 months preceeding the election?

Then we will bring the ballot box home too

J.Tonna

Jan 23rd 2009, 18:26

@ Sandy Aquilina - At first I was inclined not to answer your comment about my suggestion, but on second thought I decided to remind you that we are human beings and not animals.

Adrian Wirth

Jan 23rd 2009, 18:25

K.I.S.S. - The simplest solution is usually the easiest to impliment and sustain. The UK's postal vote system appears to have worked efficiently for decades with only minor and infrequent upgrades. There are numerous other similar procedures across Europe. Surely it's not beyond the bounds of national capability to adapt and adopt the best aspects of all systems to suit our purposes and enable our citizens to exercise their rights. Our convoluted and unintelligible proportional voting system ought not to have any influence on the practical voting process, it's the process which dictates and controls. To argue otherwise is simply an acknowledgement of the inherent distrust that exists between party executives. Basing eligibility on having a national identity card number seems logical whatever the actual validity of the card the master data base registration status should be the deciding validity criteria.

Mary Debono

Jan 23rd 2009, 17:53

MLP had been dead set against this two years ago when PN wanted voting by Maltese abroad in embassies. Finally, MLP is agreeing with PN on this. Excellent for all of us who work temporarily abroad.

Jimmy Magro

Jan 23rd 2009, 17:49

Part II

Without going into more detail, I think that this subject should be considered by the working party set up by Parliament to strenthen democracy. Then there must be a long period of consultation with citizens, and civil society.

This is not a matter to be agreed or decided at bullet point as a group of sports persons are travelling outside Malta. In every election there are hundreds of persons abroad and no one had ever made a case for them to vote.

The Constitution is there to serve the whole nation and not a small group of voters.

Parliament cannot set up a working group and then jump the gun. This shows lack of confidence in the sam Parliament and will continue to reduce public confidence in the nation's institutions.

P Aquilina

Jan 23rd 2009, 17:44

AT LONG LAST!!!

LABOUR HAS BEEN OPPOSING THIS FOR YEARS NOTWITHSTANDING
THE PN's INSISTENCE THAT THIS SHOULD BE DONE.

NOW, FINALLY, AFTER THE PN PROPOSED THAT THE MALTESE ATHLETES SHOULD VOTE A DAY BEFORE THE MEP ELECTIONS, THE MLP HAVE HAD A CHANGE OF HEART AND HAVE THUS CHANGED THEIR POSITION!

GOOD NEWS...VERY GOOD NEWS...AT LONG LAST LABOUR HAS DECIDED TO GRANT THE MALTESE ABROAD THE RIGHT TO VOTE FROM THEIR EMBASSIES..

HOW IRONIC THOUGH THAT TODAY LABOUR MP EVARIST BARTOLO WROTE AN ARTICLE IN A MALTESE NEWSPAPER SAYING THAT PN WON THE LAST ELECTION BECAUSE IT BROUGHT OVER FROM ABROAD MALTESE CITIZENS WHO ACCORDING TO BARTOLO WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO VOTE!

I WONDER WHO DECIDES IN THE LABOUR PARTY! CONSISTENCY ZERO....BUT AT LEAST LABOUR HAS MADE A GOOD U-TURN!

Jan Markham

Jan 23rd 2009, 17:44

I live about 400 miles away from the embassy. How shall I vote?

Jimmy Magro

Jan 23rd 2009, 17:43

Games are played with rules. There is also a referree.

Elections, which are by far a more serious event, have to be played with rules too. The referee is the Electoral Commission and finally the Civil/Constitutional Court. The electoral rules are found in our Constitution and the Electoral Law of 1991, that gives alot of power to the political parties.

In the past years, Maltese Citizenships has become like a chewing gum. It seems that everyone can become a Maltese Citizen and this is one of the biggest error of our legislators. We have lost our dignity as Maltese Citizenship is being sold left right and centre.

Every country has its own characteristics and elections in Malta cannot be played with rules of other countries. The existing rules of citizenship and residence in the Constitution must be upheld and the no Court has the right or privelege to change or interpret these constitutional provisions. Rather Government must ensure that the country has in force the means to enforce these provisions.

The Constitution also provides who can vote when persons are abroad. These are very clear provisions and no one has the right to abuse or encourage abuse.

E Gatt

Jan 23rd 2009, 17:25

PN has been seeking MLP’s approval on voting arrangements for Maltese living/working abroad for a number of years now.

Although this is another attempt for PL to ‘steal’ an idea which they resisted in the past, it should be welcomed by PN, and more importantly by the voters themselves.

Joseph Schembri

Jan 23rd 2009, 17:23

What's wrong with voting early. It is much less complicated than having to vote in an embassy. And why shouldn't apply to people going on holiday? Every General Election disrupts overseas travel, this is senseless, life should go on as normal. Early voting could also be utilised by the infirm to avoid irritating queues on the voting day itself.

Stephan Camilleri

Jan 23rd 2009, 17:19

Simpler would be to vote by post, , it is cheaper for every body concerned. This system is adapted by some big european country, eg Germany.
Of course the maltese who are living abroad must apply to vote, were then the election commision sents tamper prove document for the person to be able to vote

Oliver Magri

Jan 23rd 2009, 17:15

I am all for an easier voting system for eligible voters who happen to be abroad. However, the magic word is 'eligible'. I have friends who have lived in the UK for some years and still avail themselves of the cheap tickets and return to vote every 5 years. I strongly believe in the adage " No representation without taxation". In our closley fought electoral contests a few hundred votes can make all the difference. If a suitable checking system cannot be agreed upon, then we should issue a vote to all Maltese Passport Holders including the many thousands who emigrated in the 50's and 60's. Only fair no??

michael fenech

Jan 23rd 2009, 17:15

I can’t see what ‘s all the fuss about, in most democratic countries advance polling been going on for ages .

mikepace

Jan 23rd 2009, 17:10

This a new era how political image works and they why the majority of the nation should follow the example of Dr Muscat and the team in general and give every citizen of any Maltese origin to show their rights also when they are away from our shores.

Jeff Inguanez

Jan 23rd 2009, 17:06

Excellent change of heart by Labour.

A few years back, the Government had wanted to amend the Consistution
so that Maltese that happen to be abroad on election day,
including missionaries, students and workers,
would be able to vote.

Labour had voted against.

It is now excellent news that Labour has had this
change of heart and is now
agreeing with the Nationalist proposal it had previously opposed.

The right to vote is a fundamental right that should be widened
and never ever limited, as Labour had been doing up to now.

Denis Catania

Jan 23rd 2009, 16:58

I should have the right to vote in Maltese elections. I hold a Maltese passport with Maltese citizenship.

Matthew Agius

Jan 23rd 2009, 16:55

Makes a lot of sense.

It is a right to vote, and should be made as easy as possible (with all precautions taken). It's not fair for someone to have to incur extra costs (either him or the country), for him to be able to vote, by coming over to Malta for the vote.

Sandy Aquilina

Jan 23rd 2009, 16:53

Yes Mr Tonna, don't you think a chip injected in the back of our necks as they do with animals would be more appropiate. That way they can keep an eye out on us 24/7. Whither art thou George Orwell?

C Calleja

Jan 23rd 2009, 16:48

Those being proposed by the PL are a set of suggestions which I consider as crucial if we want to strengthen our democratic system.

In my opinion the top priority must be the renewal of ID Cards.

Actually I never understood why the government is happy with the current situation where 2/3 of the population is in possession of an outdated ID Card.

With regards to voting early because of going abroad, this must be limited to special cases like the scenario we are facing were athletes will be competing in international competitions. I don’t think this should apply for someone going on holiday.

J. Tonna

Jan 23rd 2009, 16:44

I agreee with both PL and NP proposals. But these should start from the 6th June EP elections. Things might be enhanced more later on.

Another proposal I wish both parties to make is that in the chip of the ID Card an ICE contact telephone/mobile number be included.