Patients at four hospitals in Malta and Gozo – Mater Dei, Mount Carmel, Karen Grech and the Gozo General – will be given the opportunity to vote without having to leave the buildings, thanks to amendments proposed in the General Elections (Amendment) Bill, passed through all its stages in Parliament yesterday.

Voting in hospital should be held on the eve of the general election...

Speaking during the debate in second reading, Justice Minister Chris Said said that this would be similar to the prevailing situation St Vincent de Paule Residence.

This would mean less hardship for the patient and less logistical worries for the staff.

Furthermore, voting will be held on the eve of the election, just like it is for all those involved in the electoral process.

Similarly, anyone who turns 18 before the eve of the general election will be eligible to vote.

The Electoral Commission would be obliged to publish a revised electoral register when an election is announced. The voter total, which last April stood at 329,000, is likely to rise by up to 2,700 before the next election, depending on the date it was held.

Another advantage of the amendments, the minister said, was that all those registered to vote in Gozo but residing in Malta could pick up their voting document from Malta, by sending a written request.

This also works for Maltese registered to vote in Malta but had their residence in Gozo.

Dr Said said the restricted area that surrounds a voting station, which currently stands at some 50 metres from the perimeter, would be considerably reduced.

The work of the Electoral Commission would undoubtedly increase, but this was a more efficient, less bureaucratic system with better safeguarding of all rights.

Opposition spokesman for home affairs Michael Falzon said this in effect was a government living out its sunset days.

He agreed with the rolling register concept, although he questioned whether anyone who turns 18 in the final week should be allowed to vote early if going abroad.

He suggested that voting in hospitals should be held on the eve of the general election, or even further in advance, although this should be discussed at committee stage.

Dr Falzon also agreed with the reduction in the restricted area being enshrined in the law.

Winding up, Dr Said said it appeared that both parties agreed on the proposed amendments. This was important when dealing with such a sensitive matter.

In committee stage, Dr Said introduced an amendment to clause two by which the Electoral Commission should publish a revised electoral register within five days (not working days) within the publication of the writ instead of the present three working days.

Dr Falzon said while he had no objection, there may be instances in which five days would be equivalent to three working days.

Dr Said put forward an amendment to clause five by which voters registered as patients in St Vincent de Paule would vote the day before the election between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Dr Falzon agreed with such an amendment. He requested the minister to clarify whether patients registered at the other hospitals would be given the option to vote in thes hospitals or whether they would be obliged to vote there if they decided to vote.

Dr Said said that to avoid confusion, they should vote in hospital.

The minister introduced a new clause (clause 11) that requires political clubs to close if they are situated within 50 metres to the middle of the door of the voting place.

It contained a proviso enabling the commission to close any other club if such club might influence voters.

Dr Falzon said that one should determine which door would be considered if a polling place had other doors.

Both parties agreed to determine the zone as that within 50 metres from the centre of the width of the door used as an entrance of the polling place.

The new clause 11 was unanimously approved.

Dr Falzon remarked that had the amendments not been introduced in a hurry, both parties would have had been able to improve other issues such as “the ridiculous situation” where an election candidate had to declare that he did not exceed the campaign amount that had been established 100 years ago.

Dr Said said while there was a need for further changes, the amendment referred to by Dr Falzon would have to be made to another ordinance.

The Bill was also given a third reading.

Later, the House started discussing in second reading the Various Laws (Classification of Films and of Dramatic and other Stage Productions) Amendment Bill and then rose for the summer recess.

It will meet again on October 1.