Vote counting to be 'long and complicated'

The counting of votes in the European Parliament elections will be a rather long and complicated process particularly because of the large quotas needed to determine who gets elected, the large number of candidates running and, consequently, a ballot paper that is almost a metre long.

At a press briefing at the Ta' Qali counting hall yesterday, the electoral commission explained that these elections are "unusual" because all Malta will be considered as one district.

This could create technical difficulties for the counting agents who, among other things, could have problems placing the long ballot sheets into the pigeon holes while counting.

Louis Fsadni, an electoral commission official, said that even the opening of boxes - expected to start at about 11.30 p.m. on Saturday - will take longer than usual. Although the commission will be doing its utmost to ensure a smooth and efficient counting process, counting is not expected to start before Sunday at noon and could go on until Wednesday.

The political parties are expected to have a good indication of the way first count votes have gone by Sunday afternoon. But before all the five elected candidates are known, there would have to be recounts to determine who will inherit the subsequent preferences.

Candidates will need a quota of between 34,000 and 38,000 votes to get elected, depending on the turnout. In practice, candidates who do not reach the required quota on the first count will inherit votes according to the single transferable vote system. For the first time ever, Malta and Gozo are being considered a single district and successive counts will be transferred proportionally across the total number of votes cast.

According to European regulations, results should not be announced before voting ends in all countries so as not to influence the voting outcome from one country to another.

The electoral commission said the counting of votes for the 22 local council elections will start on Saturday, June 19 at 8 a.m.

Council elections are taking place in Attard, Birzebbuga, Floriana, Gharghur, Gzira, Hamrun, Kercem, Luqa, Marsaxlokk, Mosta, Munxar, Paola, Qala, Qormi, Safi, San Lawrenz, Sta Lucija, Siggiewi, Swieqi, Vittoriosa, Xaghra and Zebbug.

In total, 237 candidates are contesting. Voting will take place at the same time as for the EP elections.

About 13,000 voting documents for the EP election remain uncollected while those who failed to collect their voting documents for local council elections numbered about 4,800.

Early indications show that the turnout for Saturday's EP election will be lower than for the general election. Today is the last day when voting documents can be collected.