It is the day when the Maltese get to decide which political party will govern them in the next five years.

The political campaigns came to an end on Thursday night and, after observing a day of silence, the so-called day of reflection, the Maltese are being asked to exercise their right to choose their government.

It is an election which pits two politicians who took over the reins of their respective party midway through the legislature, and as such it is the first time that both major parties are being led into an election by a newcomer.

Both have been involved in a five-week campaign which took them to practically all corners of Malta and Gozo.

Now it is up to the people to decide.

Democracy is not perfect, but at least it gives the opportunity to each and every citizen to take part in the process of electing the people to represent them. A minority has already voted in what are known as early polling days; the great majority will be casting their vote today.

The result of the election will be known on Sunday morning, as the human machinery employed by the parties at the Naxxar counting hall makes it possible for the unofficial result to be made known soon after the votes begin to be counted.

We will then have to wait a few more hours until the Electoral Commission announces the official result. It is possible, given the use of electronic counting, that the official result will be made known on Sunday evening.

Apart from the overall winners, voters also get to elect individual candidates, a minimum of 65. The number will likely be higher, as mechanisms enter into the fray to give a proportional representation according to the overall number of votes obtained across the country, and to establish a better gender balance in the House of Representatives. This latter system is being utilised for the first time in this election after amendments were made in the legislature which has just ended.

The election is being held while the Covid-19 pandemic still rages on. Sadly we note that the campaign, with all its political events and social activities, has contributed to a steady rise in the number of virus cases being registered. We had seen a dip before the campaign started, but in the past weeks the daily cases have surpassed 400 again while the number of active cases has again risen above 3,000.

There will be celebrations on Sunday, and they will probably be spilling over to all of next week. One understands that it is hard to exercise control, but one hopes that responsible behaviour will prevail – both with regard to the observation of restrictions that are still in place, and also in the respect shown towards those who are on the losing end.

Once all is over, Malta needs to settle down in its routine as quickly as possible. An election always brings disruption and a slowdown, but we must get back to business.