Voting for the general election for persons who are currently quarantined or have tested positive for Covid-19 will start Saturday, 19 March in special voting stations around Malta and Gozo.
Chief Electoral Commissioner Joseph Camilleri gave a briefing on voting procedure for Covid-19 patients and those in mandatory quarantine between 12 and 25 March, at the Life Sciences Park in San Gwann.
The centres will be in the Smart City car park, in Ta Qali, in the Life Sciences car park in San Ġwann and in Xħajma, Xewkija, near the horse track.
Camilleri explained that the voting will happen through a drive through system, whereby persons enter with their vehicle and stop in front of the place where they are indicated to vote. Persons must be of the same household. If there is more than one positive person in one car, one of them gets out of the car to vote in a polling station, while the other is handed the ballot sheet in their respective car.
Persons of the same household where one is positive, whilst the other is in mandatory quarantine, can go to the voting station together.
It was explained that the officers will be wearing personal protective equipment (PPEs) and that any equipment used, including pencils, and documents will be cleaned after every voter.
Camilleri said that all those who are positive with Covid-19, will be notified in advance where they will be voting. The commission will send an email with the place where a person can vote. If a person does not have an email, police will inform the person.
The Commission has made it clear that each voter will only go to the polling station and not to the polling place indicated on the ballot paper.
Camilleri said that until yesterday there were 37,000 votes which have not been collected.
510 persons are eligible to vote tomorrow. Voting for the positive or quarantined will occur on 19 March, 22 March, 24 March and 26 March. Camilleri said that if the number of cases increase, three more centres have been identified and will be opened. These are in the locations of the Pembroke park and ride, near the Ħal Far Model Flying Association, and the MCAST Paola parking area.
Elderly homes and prisoners will be voting tomorrow as well, Camilleri said.