The votes we don't count

Every election, we are reminded that every vote matters.

It is one of the most repeated phrases in democratic life. Politicians of every party invoke it, electoral authorities encourage it and citizens believe it.

Yet there is a category of votes that Malta continues to make unnecessarily difficult to cast: those belonging to Maltese citizens living abroad.

When election day arrives, many encounter a barrier that feels increasingly out of place in the modern world. Distance.

In an age where we can transfer money across continents in seconds, attend international meetings from our kitchens and manage much of our lives online, Malta still largely expects citizens abroad to physically return home if they wish to exercise one of their most fundamental democratic rights and, arguably, duties.

Why should geography determine democratic participation? If we genuinely believe that every vote matters, our electoral system should reflect that belief.

Thousands of Maltese study, work and often build lives beyond our shores. Some leave temporarily, others remain abroad indefinitely. Yet they retain a connection to the country, continue to have family here and maintain an equal stake in Malta's future.

Tens of thousands of votes remained uncollected at various stages of the most recent election cycle. Some citizens were unable to return, whilst others may have chosen not to. Yet whether they live in London, Brussels, Sydney or Toronto, Malta remains their country and democratic participation remains their right.

Mobility is no longer an exceptional circumstance. It is the norm.

Malta does not need to invent a solution, as many viable models already exist. Democracies around the world have developed a variety of external voting arrangements. Italy allows citizens abroad to vote from overseas. France provides representation for citizens living abroad. Estonia has pioneered secure digital voting. Other countries make use of postal voting, embassy voting and consular voting.

Indeed, there is a strong argument that many of the people living abroad are precisely those whose participation we should encourage. They have experienced different societies, different systems and different approaches to education, transport, governance and economic development. Their perspectives should enrich national debate rather than be excluded from it.

Ana Vella.

This is not a partisan issue but a democratic one. A healthy democracy is not solely measured by the votes that are cast, but also by the barriers that prevent citizens from casting them.

Citizenship does not end at the airport and neither should one’s democratic participation.

Malta does not lack the means to modernise its voting system. The question is why, in 2026, it still has not. 

Ana Vella is an entrepreneur with experience in EU-funded projects and a keen interest in strategic development and civic innovation.