The government on Sunday announced that Air Malta would be offering €70 tickets for people who want to come to Malta to vote in the Spring Hunting referendum on 11 April.

Let us depart from this standpoint; the government is completely correct in offering Maltese people the chance to vote. But what really is a bone of contention is why these people cannot vote by proxy (through registered post) or by casting their ballot at an embassy or consulate.

This government has prided itself in working to remove red-tape and introducing more civil rights. It has managed in many respects, but this is one area that really needs addressing.

Does the establishment (just as past establishments did) fear our ability to deal with a few thousand votes that are sent to Malta by post, secure email, or by being cast in person abroad? Does it fear that someone, somewhere in the system might tamper with votes? Does the establishment not trust the maturity of Maltese people who live abroad and want to exercise their right to vote? Most European countries have created such facilities for their citizens, so why do we always seem to lag behind?

Many might think that Air Malta will have to foot the bill, but it will not. The subsidised flights are all paid for by the government, so in essence, it is tax payers who are funding the trips from abroad. While most will be travelling back to Malta to exercise their votes, it has also become common practice for some to avail themselves of a ticket for a short holiday back home.

But perhaps, this is the way the political parties want to keep it. The status quo allows for more dependence on Malta’s bi-partisan political system. Perhaps both parties believe that in allowing voters more freedom, their influence on them will wane and create apathy.

This also ties in to myriad other laws that continue to weigh down our democratic process and allow the authorities too much sway on the pressure build up that comes with any sort of poll. One that should definitely be mentioned is the ridiculously antiquated Day of Reflection legislation where media are not allowed to broadcast any subject matter related to the poll in question, be it a general election, a referendum or local councils. In the age of Twitter and Facebook, such legislation is just dead letter. As we always call it, the legislation is as useful as a chocolate teapot.

And while we are on the subject, it might be high time to introduce exit polling. Election fever does not reach the heights that it used to in the past, but we still have police officers patrolling street corners and pulling people up for checking a text message while entering the polling buildings. This has to stop. Exit polls would give an idea of the result an hour after polls close. This is the way forward, this is what happens everywhere else in modern Europe. It’s time to take that giant leap forwards.