More than 33,000 votes out of 192,000 issued for tomorrow's local elections in 35 localities have not been collected. Half of the uncollected votes belong to EU citizens resident in Malta.

The EU citizens resident here numbered 21,400. A total 17,000 of them did not collect their vote.

Votes could be collected until last night.

For the first time, local council elections are being held in half of Malta's towns and villages, after the term of councils was extended from three to four years.

There are 419 candidates for the 239 council seats that are up for grabs. 10 candidates are on the AD list, 200 on labour's and 198 on the PN's. Small parties and independents number just 11.

Polling stations have been set up mostly in schools. There are 308 ballot boxes in 54 polling stations. 35 ballot votes were used for early voting last Saturday by those who will be away this Saturday. Assistant Electoral Commissioners vote on Friday in another 35 boxes.

Once voting closes on Saturday at 7 p.m., the ballot boxes in Malta will be taken to the counting hall at Naxxar where sorting and counting will start immediately. In Gozo, the process will take place at the sports hall. First results are due on Saturday night and all counting is expected to be over late on Sunday.

The counting will be conducted by 1,111 counting staff. This will be a new experience for just under half of them. There will also be 1,900 assistant commissioners in the polling stations.