The European Court of Human Rights recently passed judgement on a complaint put forward by two Greek nationals living and working in Strasbourg, France, on the issue of not being able to vote in the Greek elections from their place of residence.

In short, the court ruled that when the state did not allow its citizens to vote from the country in which they reside in relation to a national election – allowing them only the choice to fly home and vote or not vote at all – is tantamount to a breach of fundamental human rights. But, and it’s a very legal but, the ruling was not based on the actual fact that there is no provision in Greek law for people to vote in elections from another country, but rather that the Greek Constitution contains a provision where it: “Authorised the legislature to lay down the conditions for the exercise of voting rights for expatriate voters”. And “could not remain inapplicable for an indefinite period”.

On the other hand, the ECHR also made reference to the fact that in 29 of 33 member states, procedures were implemented for this specific purpose, such as in the UK, which means that Greece, and therefore also Malta falls below the common denominator in these matters.

Although the government has in the past organised subsidised travel back to Malta through special arrangements with the national airline, there is no choice in the matter. You either pay for a ticket and take a couple of days off work and fly back – disrupting your whole schedule as a result , or you simply give up the right to cast your vote. You are also not even assured of a seat on these special flights as places are limited. It irks many Maltese people who find themselves in such a situation.

Of course, the parties will immediately point out that elections are held on Saturday and that special shuttle flights are organised to bring Maltese over. But it’s not the point is it? The first issue to raise is: Why should a person have to take that few thousand mile trip when other arrangements can be made. It is simple – one can set up polling booths within embassies or consulates. A more high-tech (or low-tech) solution could be the use of secure email (yes it exists) or good old fashioned registered snail mail.

The other issue which is pertinent to point out is that the ‘special’ arrangements which are made to ferry people over to Malta to vote are not made out of respect to their human rights, but simple hell-bent desire by the political parties to get their hands on every vote possible.

Although we have made great steps forward in terms of democracy, election time is still frantic. Shops are still closed near polling stations, you cannot even use your phone within 100 metres of a polling building. In the year 2010, there is no such thing as an electronic voting system or an exit poll.

The system will have to change; and not before time either. While we have no doubt that any form of alteration to the voting system on terra firma Malta will not be changed for a long time yet, the parties had better get to grips with reality. Europe is now our common home and a solution has to be found other than wasting tax payers’ money in getting people to come back to vote. We are aiming towards 2020 and job mobility targets after all.