A Bill to amend the General Elections Act is due to be given a First Reading when Parliament meets again on Monday.

The First Reading, a formality, authorises the government to publish the Bill in the Government Gazette.

Informed sources said the Bill is to provide for a rolling Electoral Register so that all those who turn 18 up to a day before a general election will still be eligible to vote.

At present, people have to be 18 when the register is published - in April or October - in order to be able to be eligible to vote. Thus one could, for example, turn 18 in May and not be eligible to vote if an election is held in August since that election would be based on the April register.

VOTING IN HOSPITALS

The Bill is also expected to introduce provisions to allow voting to take place in hospitals and old people's homes.

Patients are currently taken out on stretchers and wheelchairs in order to be able to vote in their home towns. The Bill is expected to provide that a ballot box from each district would be taken to Mater Dei Hospital, Mt Carmel Hospital, Karin Grech and Gozo general hospital so that patients can vote there. The same facility will be available to homes for the elderly having more than 50 residents.

VOTING BY GOZO 'RESIDENTS'

The Bill will also make it possible for people having a Gozo address to be able to collect their voting document in Malta, although they would still be required to vote in Gozo.

The Bill is being piloted by Justice Minister Chris Said.

A Bill on cohabitation is expected to be moved for first reading in the coming days.