The Labour Party, shame on them, have been in the news lately for having the temerity to file court applications intended to have individuals struck off the electoral register. The PN, our sit-at-the-right-hand-of-God political party that can do no wrong, have come out, guns blazing, at this affront to our political system. Its secretary-general Paul Borg Olivier is quoted as having said that Labour’s actions were inconveniencing many people who were either studying, working or receiving medical treatment abroad, or were just being targeted by Labour. What the PN have failed to mention is that it has filed applications in order to have people included in the electoral register. I wonder whether these latter will be voting PN!

Let’s get one thing clear. The Labour Party is acting in strict adherence to the law by insisting that only individuals who have lived in Malta for at least six of the past 18 months are allowed to vote in the coming general election. Likewise, the PN is acting correctly in applying for new voters to be included. Is this right? Should the rules be changed? It is definitely time for a debate and possibly time for a number of changes. The truth be told, part of the reason why we are in this situation is the inefficiency of the Nationalist government in updating our identity cards. Most of us have cards that are now hugely out-of-date, which is why the need to file court applications has arisen – not because people are studying abroad or away for medical reasons. In fact, we have the possibility of people coming to vote in Malta who have lived abroad for many years and who should not, logically speaking, have the vote.

As to proposed changes, there are many that need to be made. First and foremost, as already said, we need to update our ID cards to ensure who can and cannot vote. Secondly, we might need to re-examine the cut-off date regarding when you can or cannot vote. Then we will need to create a certain number of exceptions for those who are studying abroad, or are abroad for medical reasons or working on behalf of the government away from Malta. We also need to update other areas of our election laws such as the archaic alphabetical system that has led to a number of surprises over the years. This system could be changed so easily with basic software whereby, for example, the first name on the list is replaced by the last name on the list every, say, 100 ballot papers. This will ensure that, with every 100 papers, the name at the top will be different. This would ensure equality of arms – at least alphabetically speaking!

A country moving forward must review its laws dynamically. It is useless to stay rooted in the old way of doing things. Of course, this applies to election laws as well. It is not always easy but in this we must strive for consensus and consistency. Our membership of the European Union has opened our eyes to a different way of looking at things. We need, therefore, to look at our election laws with an open mind and see what changes would benefit us.

The PN has also lamented that the Labour Party’s actions are somehow a curtailment to the freedom of movement. Honestly…!