Update 2: Voter turnout at around 72 per cent
Turnout for the divorce referendum was around 72 per cent by the time voting came to an end, the Electoral Commission said.
This was the lowest turnout ever in Malta, well below the low 78.8 turnout in the 2009 MEP elections.
The 2004 MEP election had had a turnout of 82.4 per cent, the EU referendum – 90.9 per cent and the last General Electon – 93.3 per cent.
The Ballox boxes are currently arriving and being received at the Mediterranean Conference Centre.
The boxes are being emptied and the ballots are being put face down in preparation for counting tomorrow.
The Electoral Commission yesterday confirmed that 20,775 voting documents remained uncollected, four times the number at the last general election.
Voting went smoothly in all localities.
In Mellieha, elderly voters who needed assistance because they could not read the referendum question were apparently asked whether they would like to divorce, instead of whether they wanted to vote yes or no for divorce.
Although small queues were noted in some localities, voters did not generally have to wait long although those who had to cross over to Gozo to cast their vote had to queue for up to two hours as only two boats were in operation.
The country's leaders cast their vote early this morning, Archbishop Paul Cremona at 7.30.
This evening, the bishops issued a note apologising to anyone who may have been hurt by any words or actions taken by members of the Church during the referendum campaign.
They also stressed the need for collective investment in marriage.
The bishop's note was embargoed to 10 p.m. but the embargo was breached by Maltatoday leading the Church to lodge an official complaint with the electoral commission.
The note also led the divorce movement to request an hour's extension to voting. The request was turned down.
Just over 304,000 people were able to vote since close to 22,000 voting documents, representing six per cent of voters, were uncollected.
Vote counting will take place tomorrow at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta with the sorting of votes starting at about 10 a.m. The result is expected about two hours later.
The official turnout table given by the Electoral Commission.
|
District 1 |
71% |
|
District 2 |
71% |
|
District 3 |
72% |
|
District 4 |
73% |
|
District 5 |
72% |
|
District 6 |
70% |
|
District 7 |
72% |
|
District 8 |
73% |
|
District 9 |
71% |
|
District 10 |
71% |
|
District 11 |
75% |
|
District 12 |
69% |
|
District 13 |
70% |
PN THANKS ELECTORATE
In a statement, the Nationalist Party thanked the electorate for voting in the referendum.
It expressed satisfaction that another useful exercise in democracy was carried out for the people to take a decision which was above partisan politics.
The PN said it would wait for the result to see what the people wanted and thanked the two movements that worked to convince the people about their positions.
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31 Comments
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Mr Peter Murray
May 29th 2011, 10:30
Name another country in the world that enshrined divorce in its legislation via a referendum?I would argue that Mr.Grillo is quite correct to state that this is the role and function of our law-makers to provide and as William Carlos Williams stated in 1883-"DIVORCE IS THE SIGN OF KNOWLEDGE IN OUR TIMES".However,no one is sayiing it is the divine solution or panacea to a irretrievably broken marriage marriage merely a possible option to have a second chance at happiness.It has also been said that divorce is a system whereby two people make a mistake but only one ends up paying for it and that Bigamy and Monogomy are in fact the same -that being having one spouse too many!
i. schembri
May 29th 2011, 09:43
i didn't like the fact that we all had to vote with a pencil mark. i asked for a pen but the people in the voting room told me they have been told to vote with a pencil, and did not want to give me a pen. voting with a pencil...............it's already enough that we have to vote to try give this lame island some common sense, yet again trying to stop this stupid church we have from imposing on our LEGAL decisions, and....they give us a pencil? are you kidding me?
Dear Bishop, you should have apologised for your church's idiotic acts a few days before the referendum, and perhaps remind malta's citizens that the church has NO RIGHT to impose on legal decisions.
Dear Church, who makes you believe that all citizens of malta give a damn about what the bible says? did you forget that perhaps certain people don't believe in fairy tales written hundreds of years ago to scare ignorant peasents in order to control and steal them from their lives?
Lydia Pace Workman
May 29th 2011, 17:15
No, I think the word is 'boloh' since they were so convinced that the 'no' votes would predominate!!
Jason Falzon
May 29th 2011, 09:43
What are Ballox boxes if I may ask. I know of Ballot boxes but never of Ballox, or is it maybe bollox? :)
Ms Dorielle Soler
May 29th 2011, 08:05
RE: people who did not vote or even collect their voting document : all I can say is that the ones I know personally were simply indifferent and at the most said as far as they are concerned the situation as it is is ok by them. Not my words - theirs ! Thinking that somebody was scared of Church or any other entity is laughable when you actually talk with these people !
Mr Chris Grillo
May 29th 2011, 05:47
Thanking people for doing the parliamentarians job is hardly getting the PN any sympathy from anyone. This was parliament's due... but naturally shuffled to us to decide.
The majority to decide for the minority.... for the hurt, needy, and the scared to remain as they are if the 'I don't give a damn about you brigade' win..
And you're thanking the electorate? Yeah right!
Ms Agnes Bezzina
May 29th 2011, 07:23
Hello!! Are you serious?! There are countries where people do not even have a say re who governs them, and you are complaining because a decision of the sort was taken to referendum level?! How can you complain? How shameful!!
Chantelle Falzon
May 29th 2011, 07:55
I tend to disagree with you Mr Grillo, this choice is not about which road to repair, or a cultural project which obviously the Goverment which we decided to appoint, decides. This is a choice of life. Although the group effected is a minority one, as everyone wishes that his/her marraige flourishes, this might actually effect each and everyone in our society. This was a choice of life for the present if you are in need now and for the future, if at any point in time you need to. Everyone hopes that no one use it, but for those who are suffereing they do not have any other option but to take a Divorce, to start over with a new page in life.
Stephanie Vella
May 29th 2011, 08:47
Are you serous yourself? Are you usually consulted with regards to which laws should be re enacted in Malta? You must be a very important person... This should have been a Government decision and laws protecting even the minority of the people need no referendum! There you go now approx Euro 4,000,000 down the drain when they have been put to better use....
Mr Saliba Francis
May 29th 2011, 09:42
In Switzerland referenda are held regularly on most serious issues. That is true democracy in action because it neutralizes the harm that some politicians try to do against the wishes of those who elected them.
Mr Mike Abbot
May 29th 2011, 10:11
Ms Agnes Bezzina - Chris is totally right. A referendum to decide what a minority needs is totally wrong and it's also wrong to congratulate a government that stood by while the church scared and threatened voters and also stood by (along with the government) while other groups, in the name of god, scared and threatened people.
As a member of the public you should not be defending your government's every move, you should be critical and demanding. They have a job to do (with our taxes) and every time people make excuses like lowering the bar so low as to compare them to dictatorships, it ultimately makes them weaker and act less accountable. In other words, the more they hear comparisons, like yours, with other countries the less they need to try.
Mark Cassar
May 29th 2011, 05:41
A large number of uncollected voting documents and a low turn out. Indifference or washing of hands to absolve themselves of responsibility?
Mr Peter Paul Borg
May 29th 2011, 01:20
The PN expressed it's satisfaction that another exercise in democracy was carried out.
How can this be called democracy when the public was scaremongered before going to the polls????
Mr Peter Korsten
May 28th 2011, 23:12
"This was the lowest turnout ever in Malta, well below the low 78.8 turnout in the 2009 MEP elections."
Lo and behold, disenfranchisement is taking hold in Malta as well. That's what you get for not taking political responsibility, and not deciding these things in parliament where they belong.
Jason Borg
May 28th 2011, 23:10
Clutching at straws.
Harley Fallows
May 28th 2011, 23:06
@Stephanie Scicluna. So your concluding that because people didn't turn up they dont want divorce ? Very good reasoning there. Also its very insensitive that you said the people who needed special assistance made a mistake while voting. The actual probable fact is that all the people didn't even bother to collect there voting cards and vote because there too scared to do so because the church wont be happy. If they want to vote yes and are religious guided then the idea that god is not going to be happy affects them, so rather than being a "Sinner" lets just not vote and we wont have to feel guilty what every the outcome. Its sad that so many people are told to do so many things because the church said so. Im very proud to have my own mind and decide for myself.
joseph quintano
May 29th 2011, 01:57
i agree completely with this. we have to vote with our mind . we are not puppets
Mr Joseph Aquilina
May 28th 2011, 22:55
"In Mellieha, elderly voters who needed assistance because they could not read the referendum question were apparently asked whether they would like to divorce, instead of whether they wanted to vote yes or no for divorce."
- this is very hard to believe since both the YES and NO movement would have had their representatives!!
George Abdilla
May 28th 2011, 22:09
I really find this hard to believe. it is absurd!
I have served as chairman of a voting room on behalf of the Electoral commission, and know very well how careful AEC are. one has to keep in mind these people are supervising each other. with at least 2 out of 4 members serving for the parties, apart form the EC, the chairman must make sure he/she reads out the question set out by the EC exactly, but also must sound impartial in how he intone-ates words ectera.
Reuben Abela
May 28th 2011, 23:25
those who don't want divorce voted no, those who want divorce voted yes...
who are you to say those who didn't vote don't want divorce ?
it's true that abstensions are open to a big amount of interpretations... maybe a more accurate one could be that they dont exactly agree with how the bill was brought up but in principle are in favour of divorce, yet. they dont want to be in the way of those who really need/want it.
Reuben Abela
May 29th 2011, 00:01
my reply was meant to go to Stephanie Scicluna below
Mr Edward Caruana Galizia
May 29th 2011, 03:36
or maybe they just could get a flight down to Malta. Or maybe they find the whole thing absurd and couldnt get time off work to fly down to Malta. Lots of Maltese now live and work abroad. Try explain things to your employer in the UK. " I have to go to Malta to vote in a referendum on divorce. Could I have these days off to fly down?"
Ms Lucia Davies
May 29th 2011, 09:41
I agree with you I was an agent a few times during elections and these agents of different political opinions watch each other like a hawk, that is their job after all, so I cannot believe that they were all in agreement to this question,, if so they were not doing their job,, the vote is read at the desk in front of all in the room that is why they close the doors and just let one voter in ,, so please
Ms F Goodwin
May 29th 2011, 12:08
The electoral commissioner on site admitted he witnessed this abusive practice and intervened. So she didn't get away with it, but yes it sounds like it's true.
Stephanie Scicluna
May 28th 2011, 22:03
This shows that the people are NOT interested in divorce else if they truly wanted it in the country, there wouldn't have been such a high number of uncollected votes!! And for all those elderly who needed assistance - the probability is that they voted incorrectly hence not a fair vote! Typical.
Mr M Mamo
May 29th 2011, 00:02
i disagree with you ... I know a lot who voted No, not because the church said no (they are not even church goers) but because they do not agree with this particular proposal.
Since the Iva movement stated that divorce will be introduced some day or another, they preferred waiting to vote Yes for a proposal that gives the needy people the chance to divorce instead of everyone who wishes to.
Harley Fallows
May 29th 2011, 00:07
So your concluding that because people didn't turn up they dont want divorce ? Very good reasoning there. Also its very insensitive that you said the people who needed special assistance made a mistake while voting. The actual probable fact is that all the people didn't even bother to collect there voting cards and vote because there too scared to do so because the church wont be happy. If they want to vote yes and are religious guided then the idea that god is not going to be happy affects them, so rather than being a "Sinner" lets just not vote and we wont have to feel guilty what ever the outcome. Its sad that so many people are told to do so many things because the church said so. Im very proud to have my own mind and decide for myself.
Mr andreas bone
May 29th 2011, 00:22
Most probably a lot of people felt there shouldnt have been a referendum for something that should have been there as a civil right in the first place.
Colin Zammit Lupi
May 29th 2011, 01:47
It's amazing that you know what everyone who didn't vote thinks. Well, you can count me out of your ridiculous supposition. I didn't vote because I am currently overseas. Unlike other countries, Malta doesn't have a system which allows its overseas citizens to vote in it's embassies. I would have voted YES. It's also quite likely I'm not the only one.
Ms F Goodwin
May 28th 2011, 19:59
"In Mellieha, elderly voters who needed assistance because they could not read the referendum question were apparently asked whether they would like to divorce, instead of whether they wanted to vote yes or no for divorce."
Is this for real? Where did you hear it?
If that's true I seriously hope that the elderly were also hard of hearing and misheard, or the person reading the question out to them was simply illiterate and genuinely intended to read it out correctly... otherwise it seems a pretty low way to interfere with someone's right to a free vote, by taking advantage of a senior citizen's sight impairment...
Lydia Pace Workman
May 29th 2011, 17:25
I read it on MSNBC, one of the most reputable news channels worldwide. Check it out.
Please choose the reason of your report below: