Electoral Commission discusses extending election flights to other airlines
Voters living abroad have complained of difficulty getting through to KM Malta Airlines
Updated: 2.41pm
The Electoral Commission has said it will discuss the possiblity of extending election flights to other airlines, following a proposal by the PN.
Last week, KM Malta Airlines announced special €90 return flights for Maltese voters abroad to enable them to be in the country to vote in the May 30 general election.
The national airline's call centre line (+356 2141 8118) opened at 8am on Monday but several voters contacted Times of Malta to say they have been unable to get through on the number.
Others have complained of flights being booked out already.
The Nationalist Party said on Tuesday that it has written to the Electoral Commission, calling on it to ensure that all Maltese and Gozitan citizens who work or live abroad and have the right to vote are given the possibility to exercise that right.
The party asked the commission to consider extending the arrangements made with KM Malta Airlines to other airlines, so that they too may provide this opportunity to those who wish to come to Malta to vote in the general election.
" No one should be deprived of their democratic right to vote in a general election, and the Partit Nazzjonalista expects the Electoral Commission — whose duty it is to ensure that those who wish to vote are given every possible opportunity to do so — to take immediate action in this regard," the PN said.
The Electoral Commission told Times of Malta it had received the request and would be "discussed over the next few days". It pointed out that the decision does not rest solely with the electoral commission but that other stakeholders are involved, such as KM Malta Airlines.
Earlier Momentum called for a fair and accessible booking system for voters abroad.
"While we acknowledge that KM Malta Airlines has introduced discounted fares for voters, it is unacceptable that the booking process is restricted to a telephone hotline that is clearly struggling to cope with demand," it said.
It called for a reliable online booking system and to ensure adequate capacity to handle demand through multiple booking channels.
"Provide clear, timely communication to voters on how to access these services," the party said. "Democracy must be accessible to all. Administrative shortcomings should never stand between citizens and their right to vote”.