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Just over 304,000 people are able to vote today in the historic referendum on whether or not Malta should introduce divorce.

Polling stations opened on time all over Malta and Gozo this morning. Small queues were noted in some localities.

Archbishop Paul Cremona was among the first voters, in Attard. President George Abela cast his vote at Marsascala at around 10 a.m.

Turnout will be closely watched, especially since the number of uncollected voting documents, at almost 21,775, is four times the number for the last referendum, which decided Malta's EU membership. The number of uncollected votes for today's referendum represents six per cent of voters.

Polling stations opened at 7 a. m. and close at 10 p. m. in what is to mark the climax of a process started last year when Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando presented a Private Member's Bill on divorce that was later co-sponsored by Labour MP Evarist Bartolo.

Voters will be faced with a question requiring a simple yes (yellow box) or no (brown box) answer.

The question on the ballot paper is: " Do you agree with the introduction of the choice of divorce in the case of a married couple who has been separated or has been living apart for at least four years and where there is no reasonable hope for reconciliation between the spouses, while at the same time ensuring that adequate maintenance is guaranteed and the welfare of the children is safeguarded?"

The question is in Maltese and in English.

Vote counting will take place tomorrow at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta with the sorting of votes starting at about 10 a. m. with the result expected about two hours later.