Bill to allow early voting published
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.
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emmanuel zammit
Apr 16th 2009, 06:49
we keep paying for this people !!!!!
Joseph Galea
Apr 15th 2009, 16:21
@ Marcel Dingli. As far as I am aware, to be entitled to vote, the ONLY necessity is that the voters details are listed in the Electoral Register being used in that particular election.
J.Borg
Apr 15th 2009, 15:53
Isn't this another kind of discrimination......so those being away durig that week wil vote on saturday...a week before.
What if i were to be away from the wed, thurs, or friday before and not arriving back before election day.....
B.Calleja
Apr 15th 2009, 15:48
What about people living abroad and usually come over by cheap flights? Could they be in Malta a week before and vote then?
joanna farrugia
Apr 15th 2009, 12:20
may i ask who will be refusing a free holiday? and who will be paying for all this??? us the tax payer through high bills.congrats to this fantastic gov wow really good idea
Joseph Sciberras
Apr 15th 2009, 11:42
It's about time that our electoral laws are updated. This is a very good move, and the PL's resistance to it and the impractical alternative they proposed says a lot about how "modern" and "progressive" they are! This option should also be extended to the General Elections, and I also agree that Maltese people living abroad should have the right to vote at the embassies. As for the limit that they should have been living in Malta for at least 6 months in the preceding 18 months, this should be removed or at least extended to say 6 months in the last 3 years. I do not agree that those who have emigrated have the right to vote, but those who are working abroad for say a two or three year period (or less) should not lose their right to vote.
Anthony Magri
Apr 15th 2009, 11:38
Embassies are full of people supporters of the Government of the day, so one cannot trust that things are carried out regularly. Should voting be allowed in embassies, would the opposition be sending observers to each embassy or voting place at the charge of the government?. Note that I write Government of the day, without specifying which one.
Most attention should be given to Maltese living abroad. A good number live abroad and come to Malta on election day without having spent the last six months in Malta. People like these live mostly in U.K. in USA, Australia,Italy. This is not imagination. Besides voting they consider their presence here as a free holiday.
P Attard
Apr 15th 2009, 11:22
@ Jacques Rene Zammit - Those who do not intend to vote / who decide to abstain should not be an unnecessary burden on taxpayers by flying to Malta for a visit using a cheap ticket without actually casting a vote. They might as well stay at home. The reduced flight cost is covered by the taxes paid honest citizens.
Joe Scerri
Apr 15th 2009, 10:27
"The Electoral Commission had suggested flying the contingent back to Malta to vote, and then back to Cyprus"
All from taxpayers money I suppose?
All this crass stupidity thanks to the endless childish pique of the PLPN cartel.
Jacques René Zammit
Apr 15th 2009, 09:36
@R. Sciberras : Why should there be a guarantee anyway? The right to vote includes the right to abstain. Our country has not opted for making voting obligatory (as is the case in some other countries) and even if it did, the most scrutiny one could get is one that makes sure that the voter enters the ballot booth. Whether he actually votes or just scribbles some nonsense on the voting document is entirely up to the voter. I'm with you on the ballot boxes in embassies for the simple reason that it is practical and saves money. So long as the PLPN paranoia for control on who votes exists and so long as they decide to offer what you call "cheap breaks" to Malta then persons residing abroad retain the right to fly to Malta and exercise our right to vote or not vote....
Marcel Dingli
Apr 15th 2009, 09:27
R. Sciberras to be entitled to vote one must live in Malta for a total of 6 months in the preceding 18 months.
R. Sciberras
Apr 15th 2009, 09:09
Arrangements should also be made for people living abroad to vote at our embassies, thus eliminating subsidies and saving thousands of euros in flights for these short "breaks". Is there a guarantee that all these people actually vote when they come here?