The outcome of the divorce referendum could be known by Sunday afternoon at the earliest, according to the government’s printing director Charles Sammut. If, however, the counting takes longer than expected, the result would be known by 10 p.m. at the latest. Voting on Saturday, May 28 will take place between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Mr Sammut was speaking as about 620 boxes containing 650 ballot papers each were being sealed and locked up in the strongroom at the government printing press in Marsa yesterday. Far more ballot papers are printed than there are voters to make up for mistakes that voters might make on the day and who ask for a fresh ballot paper.

The long process, overlooked by members of both large parties and the Electoral Commission, will have the papers under not one lock and key, but three. The key to each lock will be kept by three persons – Mr Sammut and a representative each of the Labour and Nationalist parties.

The strongroom will be opened this Friday to release the 26 boxes that will be used by early voters and assistant electoral commissioners. It will then be closed again until the eve of the big day.

The ballot paper features large boxes below the words yes and no and the question decided by Parliament: “Do you agree with the introduction of the choice of divorce in case of a married couple who has been separated or has been living apart for at least four years, and where there is no reasonable hope for reconciliation between the spouses, while at the same time ensuring that adequate maintenance is guaranteed and the welfare of the children is safeguarded?”

About 581 boxes containing 13 packets of 50 votes will be distributed among the 13 electoral districts, 13 will go to St Vincent de Paul residence, 13 will be used for the early voters and 13 for assistant electoral commissioners.

The Electoral Commission yesterday reminded those who would be abroad on referendum day they can make a sworn declaration before an electoral commissioner until Friday to vote this Saturday.