Updated 11pm - Added PN reaction
Voting documents for the upcoming general election will remain unchanged but voters can expect more stringent identity checks at polling stations, the Electoral Commission said this evening.
In a statement issued after an urgent meeting held to discuss problems with ink on printed voting documents, the Electoral Commission said both its members as well as party delegates were satisfied by three security features included in the voting documents.
READ: Voting document ink 'can be wiped away', says Fenech Adami
"The Electoral Commission reassures the public that stricter verification of the voters’ identity shall be undertaken during the poll," the statement announcing the unanimous decision said.
The Commission urged people to store their document in a safe place until polling day and reminded people that anyone caught forging, counterfeiting, defacing or destroying a voting document would face a fine, imprisonment, or both.
Distribution of voting documents is set to get underway tomorrow. The Electoral Commission is composed of members nominated by the two major political parties and the chairman is nominated by the government.
Concerns about ink on voting documents were raised by Nationalist Party deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami earlier today, who told the press that numbers and letters on the documents could be wiped away using methylated spirit.
READ: Allow Commission serenity to solve problem, says PM
In a speech to PN supporters in Ħamrun this evening, PN leader Simon Busuttil also touched upon the issue, saying "we will keep our eye on them" and adding that the PN would be alerting the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, to ensure the safeguarding of Malta’s democracy.
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, speaking to PL supporters in Kirkop, said that the PL had also been informed of the problem but that the Electoral Commission should be given the space to work out a solution serenely, without the issue being turned into a partisan one.
'Clear attempt to undermine democratic process' - PL
In a press conference held at 10.20pm, the Labour Party heaped scorn on PN cries of impropriety.
Justice Minister Owen Bonnici said Dr Fenech Adami was intentionally trying to undermine the democratic process by lying.
"This is the second time he's done this. The first was when he claimed there was an ID card crisis," Dr Bonnici said.
PL MP Michael Falzon was equally critical. "PN delegates were there every step of the way. Their own party's delegates agreed with the decision taken by the Electoral Commission!" Dr Falzon exclaimed.
Louis Gatt, who heads the PL's electoral office and is their delegate on the Electoral Commission, said that assistant electoral commissioners representing parties at polling stations would be given a photocopy of a list of persons entitled to vote booklet.
Party delegates would then be able to double-check voters' details against their copy of the booklet, for added peace of mind, Mr Gatt said.
Voting documents had been certified by the printing company used, security printers Agfa Graphics, he noted.
Reacting, the Nationalist Party said that it would nevertheless be taking the matter to the OSCE.
"The PN will not allow anyone to meddle with the general election," they said.