A Bill to allow early voting at general elections and elections for the European Parliament and local councils, has been published in the Government Gazette.

The Bill, which amends the General Elections Act, provides that eligible voters who declare on oath before the Electoral Commission that they will not be in Malta on polling day shall be entitled to cast their vote seven days before polling day at a place indicated by the commission.

The sworn declaration may be made until noon of the Friday immediately preceding the day established for early voting.

The Bill follows a call by the Malta Olympic Committee for arrangements to be made for the Maltese contingent at the Small Nations Games to be able to vote, despite being in Cyprus on June 6, when the elections for the European Parliament and a third of local councils will be held in Malta.

The Labour Party had originally proposed that the Electoral Commission fly a ballot box to Cyprus to enable the athletes and officials to vote. The Electoral Commission had suggested flying the contingent back to Malta to vote, and then back to Cyprus.

The PN, however, had said such suggestions were impractical and discriminated against Maltese who would also be abroad on election day, but not at the Small Nations Games.

The Bill makes no mention of possible changes to enable Maltese living abroad to vote there without the need to come to Malta. Nor is there a mention of reducing the voting age for voting at local council elections.