Voting in the consultative referendum for the introduction of divorce started this morning at the Mediterranean Conference Centre.

Ballots are being cast today by people who will be abroad next Saturday, the polling day proper. 978 people have registered to be able to vote today. The voting opened at 7 a.m. at the Mediterranean Conference Centre and continues up to 10 p.m.

Some 3,000 assistant electoral commissioners and others, such as policemen, who will be on duty on Saturday, will cast their ballot on Friday.

The start of voting marks another milestone in the process which started when, like a bolt out of the blue, Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando on July 6 last year moved a private member's motion in Parliament for the introduction of divorce.

A draft bill based on Irish law was subsequently published, amended and later also seconded by Labour MP Evarist Bartolo.

The holding of the referendum was decided in a motion moved in parliament by the Opposition which was backed by the entire Labour Parliamentary group as well as Dr Pullicino Orlando and former minister Jesmond Mugliett. The Nationalist group had opposed the motion because it disagrees with the referendum question.

The question reads: Do you agree with divorce when a marriage has irrevocably broken down, couples have been separated for at least four years, and maintenance and child care arrangements have been made?

Eligible voters who have not yet received their voting document have up to tomorrow at noon to collect their document personally from police stations. The documents can also be collected between Monday and Thursday from the offices of the Electoral Commission, Evans Building, Valletta.

The Sunday Times tomorrow will carry a survey of voting intentions on divorce, carried out by Misco.