Fifteen hours of polling across Malta and Gozo ended at 10 p.m. today in an election day characterised by controversial police action against bloggers deemed to have broken the political silence mandated by the law.

According to the Electoral Commission, turnout was down by some 0.3% from the 93.3% of five years ago. 

The biggest drops in turnout were in the districts where the PN had a majority, particularly the 10th district (Sliema) and the 12th district (St Paul's Bay). The 12th district was also the district with the highest percentage of uncollected voting documents. There did not appear to be major changes in Gozo.

Polling Day, like the two-month electoral campaign which preceded it, went by without incident, but long queues were reported at times in several localities, notably Zejtun, Qormi and Paola, with some people saying they waiting for three hours to enter the polling booths.

In the evening, Parliamentary Secretary Clyde Puli issued a statement to categorically deny claims made on facebook that he, along with his brother, had been arrested over alleged voting irregularities. The facebook page where the allegations were made was taken down.

In a statement as the polling stations closed, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi on behalf of the Nationalist Party thanked supporters for their backing.

Whatever the outcome, we need to continue working together for the country to continue to succeed- Lawrence Gonzi

"Thank you to the volunteers, the workers, the thousands who attended the activities and those who followed us at home. 

"Thank You also to the Maltese people as a whole. Whatever the outcome, we need to continue working together for the country to continue to succeed," Dr Gonzi said.

"Joseph Muscat in a tweet said: Thanks to the hundreds of volunteers who worked relentlessly over the past years, months, days, and hours. Whatever the result, you did a great job."

Thanks to the hundreds of volunteers who worked relentlessly over the past years, months, days, and hours. Whatever the result, you did a great job."- Joseph Muscat

With the polling stations closed, attention immediately shifted to the Naxxar counting hall, where the ballot boxes used for early voting started being opened for the conciliation of the ballot papers (face down) with the documents held by the counting assistants. Some 7,500 people voted early, including assistant electoral commissioners who were on duty in polling stations today, hospital patients and those who voted early because they had to go abroad.

Meanwhile the other ballot boxes - some 700 - are being taken from polling stations to Naxxar under police escort, where the reconciliation process will continue throughout the night.

The counting hall has been ringed by security by the army and the police who are mounting road blocks to check the particulars of anyone heading towards the complex. 

The all-important 'sorting' of the ballot papers starts at 11 a.m. tomorrow, when the ballot papers are turned face up and sorted in batches of 50 according to the preference given to the political parties.

That will give the political parties clear indications of the result within an hour, as a sample from each ballot box is taken.