Malta today votes to elect its 12th Parliament since the country obtained Independence in 1964.
More than 340,000 voters were eligible to cast their preference, but we already know that the number will be lower than that as more than 8,000 did not pick up their voting document.
The amount of uncollected documents works out to 2.4% of the total number of registered voters. Compared with 2013, this percentage has risen by 0.4 points, from 6,523 documents to 8,372.
Queues have been reported in localities in the south of Malta, such as Zejtun (photo above) and Paola, whereas people in the north are taking it rather slowly, with Birkirkara (photos below) and St Julian's residents voting within a few minutes of arriving at the polling booth.
Queues were later also reported in Sliema (below).
Parliament will be made up of at least 65 members, but the number could be higher if there is a need to increase the MPs to establish the correct proportion of representation, given that the system with 13 electoral districts in place could lead to disproportionate results.
The party obtaining the highest number of first preferences will be declared the winner.
Polling booths across Malta and Gozo opened at 7am and will remain open until 10pm today.
People who will be abroad were allowed to vote last week, while voting has already taken place in old people’s homes and hospitals, with all those employed in the electoral process voted yesterday.
Votin started after ballot boxes were sealed in the presence of Electoral Commission representatives as well as agents from the political parties.
