With reference the editorial of Sunday, 11 December, 2016 entitled ‘Voter enfranchisement and disenfranchisement’, the Electoral Commission states that it is an autonomous Constitutional Body which is separate from any other entity, including Identity Malta Agency.

The Electoral Commission is performing its duty according to law, that is, only registering individuals who are Maltese nationals where it is shown to it that they have resided in Malta for six months over the last eighteen months. The Electoral Commission, of course, cannot exclude the possibility of errors but these have always been rectified through the appeal processes available to all.

There is little doubt that Malta has an electoral register that broadly reflects the entitlement to vote. The other matters raised in the editorial are extraneous to the Electoral Commission and it feels it would be inappropriate to comment on them.

 

Joseph Church

Chief Electoral Commissioner