1,000 apply for early voting

Just over 1,000 people have applied to post their ballot in the MEP elections today after declaring they will be abroad on June 6.

A law passed last month allows eligible voters who declare they will be away on polling day during general, local or European Parliament elections to vote the Saturday before.

The law followed a call by the Malta Olympic Committee to make arrangements for the Maltese contingent who would be taking part in the Small Nations Games in Cyprus on June 6 to be able to vote.

The Labour Party had originally proposed that the Electoral Commission fly a ballot box to Cyprus to allow the athletes and officials to vote while the commission had suggested flying the contingent back to Malta to vote and then take them back to Cyprus.

However, the Nationalist Party said such suggestions were impractical and discriminated against other Maltese who would be abroad on the day.

Just over 400 people have also applied to vote early for local councils, which will also be held next Saturday. It is understood that a number of them had also applied to vote for MEPs a week early.