There are 17,287 new voters on the electoral register, with a total of 315,217 compared to the 297,930 eligible voters for the 2003 election, according to the October 2007 register. The general election will be contested on the basis of 13 electoral districts, with five candidates to gain a seat in parliament. This system has been in practice since the 1976 election. The boundaries have been changed since the last round of elections in 2003. However, all of Gozo continues to be considered as one district, following constitutional amendments approved late last year.
The highest number of eligible voters in a district is in fact in Gozo, the 13th district, with 26,188. The highest number of voters in Malta is in the 11th district comprising Mdina, Attard, Balzan and Mosta, with 24,699. The lowest number in Malta is the first district, with 23,320 registered voters.
District 1 - Valletta, Floriana, Hamrun, part of Marsa, Pietà, Guardamangia, and part of Santa Venera - 23,320 voters.
District 2 - Vittoriosa, Senglea, Cospicua, Żabbar, Kalkara, Xghajra - 23,932.
District 3 - Zejtun, Fgura, Marsascala – 24,577.
District 4 - Gudja, Ghaxaq, Marsa, Paola, Santa Lucija, Tarxien - 23,532.
District 5 - Birzebbuga, Kirkop, Marsaxlokk, Mqabba, Qrendi, Safi, Zurrieq, Bubaqra – 24,197.
District 6 - Qormi, Siggiewi, Luqa – 24,254.
District 7 - Żebbug (Malta), Dingli, Mgarr, Mtarfa, Rabat (Malta) – 24,596.
District 8 - Birkirkara, Fleur de Lys, Iklin, Lija, part of Santa Venera – 24,157.
District 9 - Gharghur, Msida, San Gwann, Kappara, Swieqi, Ibrag, Swieqi, Madliena, Ta' Xbiex – 23,824.
District 10 - Gzira, Pembroke, St Julian’s, Paceville, Sliema – 23,979.
District 11 - Mdina, Attard, Balzan, Mosta - 24,699.
District 12 - Mellieha, Naxxar, St Paul's Bay - 23,962.
District 13 - Victoria, Fontana, Ghajnsielem, Gharb, Ghasri, Santa Lucija, Kercem, Munxar, Xlendi, Nadur, Qala, San Lawrenz, Sannat, Xaghra, Xewkija, Żebbug (Gozo), Marsalforn – 26,188.
The electoral system existing since 1921 and sanctioned by various constitutions is that of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. A list of eligible voters, in the form of an electoral register, is revised and published every April and October in the Government Gazette. When elections are called, by means of a Writ under the hand of the President of the Republic, the Electoral Commission prints and distributes voting documents to voters according to the last-published electoral register. The Electoral Commission proceeds to carry out all the administrative and organizational functions necessary to ensure the correct and smooth-running of such elections.
The election of members of the House of Representatives is the sole responsibility of the Electoral Commission as established by Article 60 of the Constitution of the Republic of Malta. The holding of such elections is regulated by the General Elections Act (Cap. 354 of the laws of Malta).