The process of reconciliation of ballot papers cast in yesterday's Divorce referendum has been concluded at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, with the next step now being the actual vote-counting, which starts at 10 a.m.

The reconciliation of ballot papers - ensuring that the number of votes found in the ballot boxes tallies with the data supplied by the polling station officials - was concluded at 8 a.m.

The process started soon after polling closed last night, with the first boxes that were opened being those used in early voting by people who needed to go abroad and those who voted early because they were involved in the electoral process yesterday.

The last boxes to be checked were those which arrived from Gozo at about 1.30 a.m.

The process was concluded sooner than expected, not least because turnout was low by Maltese standards, at just 72% (see separate story).

Some 720 calculators and counting assistants were engaged in emptying the ballot boxes, placing the ballot papers face down in batches of 50.

After 10 a.m. the packets will be opened and placed face up in the pigeon holes marked YES and NO. 

An indication of the result is expected at about Noon, depending on how wide the difference between the two camps is.

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