Several thousand set to vote tomorrow
The counting hall seen through a pigeon hole where the sorted ballots will be placed. Picture - Darrin Zammit Lupi.
Eligible voters have up to midnight today to collect their voting document, as the final preparations for the general elections are made.
The first early voting was made last Saturday, when those who will be abroad this Saturday were able to cast their ballot.
Several thousand people will be able to vote tomorrow (Friday). They include policemen and other people, such as the 4,800 assistant electoral commissioners, who will be on duty on Saturday.
Also voting tomorrow will be patients at Mater Dei Hospital, Karin Grech, Mt Carmel, Gozo Hospital and St Vincent de Paul. Voting in hospitals is taking place for the first time following amendments to the Electoral Law, with ballot boxes for each district being taken to the hospitals, avoiding the need for patients to be taken out of hospitals on stretchers on wheelchairs to vote in their home towns.
The ordinary voting, on Saturday, takes place between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Once polling stations close on Saturday, the assistant commissioners will take the ballot boxes to Naxxar counting hall.
At the same time, the ballot boxes used for the advance voting will be taken out of the strong room at Naxxar for the reconciliation of the ballot papers which will be placed in batches of 50.
The process will continue with the other ballot boxes until mid-morning on Sunday.
Tension will peak as the sorting of votes starts at 11 a.m. on Sunday, giving the parties the first indications of the result at about midday as they sample each ballot box.
The sorting process will continue until late Sunday when the actual counting of votes starts. It is expected to continue until Tuesday afternoon, when all the results will be known.
The counting of votes cast for the local council elections will take place in the following weekend.
The political parties will wind down their activities today with a PN mass meeting on the granaries and a PL mass meeting at Hal Far followed by parties and a final media blitz until midnight.
Tomorrow is a 'day of reflection' when no campaigning may take place. Campaigning also cannot take place on Saturday.
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R Axisa
Mar 7th, 14:56
L-ghalliema tal-iskejjel tal-gvern se jirrapurtaw ghax-xoghol. Hawn xi skejjel tal-knisja li se jibqghu maghluqin. Dik hi s-sitwazzjoni.
Michael Sammut
Mar 7th, 11:53
Only in Malta does the country grind to a halt after an election. Look at our EU counterparts. Does this happen in our peer countries? And what's all the fuss about anyway? In with the new and out with the old. Let's get on with life, and hope it's for the better. There's a lot of work to be done, so let's get to it.
Emanuel. Vella.
Mar 7th, 11:00
ejja ha nisfogaw!!!,u nistriehu fl-ahhar,il-mument taghna wasal ukoll !!!!! hadd wara hadd jasal (tasal) ta KULHADD!!!.
Mr Ernest Vella
Mar 7th, 10:46
Nahseb qeghdin tkunu mis-informati. L-ghalliem kollha jidhlu ghax-xoghol imma jigri li l-istudenti ma jigux u l-Head hafna drabi jiddeciedi li jibghatu l-istaff id-dar. Ma ndawrux kollox kif jaqbel lilna pls.
W. Cassar
Mar 7th, 11:26
Some school transport are not going to work, some employees have to take forced leave! Im one of them.
Michel Spiteri
Mar 7th, 10:10
The problem is not the teachers but that the country is allowed to deteriorate to that state. We cannot go on allowing the country to come to a stop. Its up to the politicians to stop the ridiculous parties and carcsdes up to 3 or 4 am, which then start again at 10 am. In certain areas such as st julians its impossible to sleep for 2 nights in a row!
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Mar 7th, 12:03
Now we have it from Tonio Fenech that unemployment has reached high levels because of the uncertainty when the election is to be held. Gonzi played around for a whole year, making the country unstable and investment close to nothing as Fenech admits today.
A Galea
Mar 7th, 09:47
ma nahsibx li huwa sew indahhlu it tfal fl iskejjel f dal genn
V. Cauchi
Mar 7th, 08:52
The Minister of Education must clearly state what will the situation be in State primary, secondary and tertiary schools on Monday for children and teachers alike. It would be superfluous having pupils roaming to/from schools only to be dismissed early in the day due to the non-attendance of staff. Why are some students told to attend all the same? A CLEAR STATEMENT is needed.
Toni Borg
Mar 7th, 09:32
why should teachers not report for work?
Will doctors be doing the same? Police? Banks? Airmalta?
if everyone adopts the same attitude this country would come to a standstill!
Next Monday should be a day like any other day - either with a new government or on with the same!
G A Bonello
Mar 7th, 10:17
The main problem seems to be with the school transport suppliers as they apparently cannot guarantee that they can provide a service on Monday, due to traffic congestion, etc.
Ronnie Callus
Mar 7th, 10:21
Is this being the first election to be held Mr.Cauchi.????? They should do as they did in the past. It seems that for the Nationalists is going to be the end of the world. May be they are right because they are seeing crowds in every meeting / mass meeting following Joseph Muscat. who wants to unite us and not as Gonzipn DIVIDING.
V. Cauchi
Mar 7th, 10:48
@ Mr Ronnie Callus
If this is the foresight and care a LP govt will have, may we be liberated from such administration.
Has it not been made clear enough that a hotly contested election, let alone a change of administration of anything over 10 years (1987, 1996), has always brought a standstill and a propensity to social disruption in the country?
Please choose the reason of your report below: