Whether you are a first-time voter or somebody who has voted in several general elections, it is easy to be confused by Malta’s single transferable vote system. To simplify the process, Kurt Sansone breaks it down into digestible portions.

1. How do I vote?

Voting is simple but the electoral process behind it is complicated. A ballot paper contains all the names of candidates in alphabetical order grouped by the political party they belong to. Next to each candidate there is a box in which you have to write down a number, indicating your preference. You start with the number ‘one’ (1) next to the candidate of first choice. You can then proceed to allocate further preferences in ascending order (2, 3, 4 etc...)

2. Do I have to put a number next to each candidate?

No. You do not have to mark all the candidates, although this is a possibility. But the system allows you to transfer your vote (through subsequent preferences after the number one) between candidates of the same party or of a different party. You can also choose to stop with the number one vote.

3. Will I spoil my vote if my numbers alternate between candidates of different parties?

No. You will hear exponents of the two major political parties insist on voters giving their preference (one, two, three etc...) only to candidates of the same party. They do this for political reasons but you have a right to shift between candidates of different parties and this will not spoil your vote. You obviously have a right to heed the political messages and stick to candidates of the same party.

4. Why is the number one so important?

The number one not only indicates your preferred candidate but also your first choice party. When the electoral result is out, the strength of political parties is measured by the amount of number one votes they would have obtained – this is also known as the first count vote. This is crucial to determine who wins the election.

5. How are candidates elected?

Candidates are elected on a district level. There are 13 electoral districts and each elects five MPs. You vote in only one district, depending on the address shown on your identity card. You can only vote for the candidates who contest your district. To get elected, candidates have to reach a quota of votes worked out by the Electoral Commission for each district. The quota is based on an equation set out at law: the number of valid votes for the district is divided by six and the result is increased by one. The quota on average hovers at around 3,000 votes.

6. How can candidates reach the quota?

Votes are first distributed among candidates depending on the number one preference. After all the votes in the district are distributed, each candidate will know the total he obtained at the first count. If a candidate surpasses the quota, he is declared elected. In the next round the votes of the elected candidate are reopened. Based on the number two preference these are redistributed among the remaining candidates. Only a proportion of inherited votes are added on to the individual’s vote tally.

7. Why do candidates inherit only a proportion?

The elected candidate has to retain under his name the quota of votes. This means that inherited votes will have to be worked out as a proportion of the elected candidate’s surplus votes (the extra amount above the quota).

8. What happens if no candidate is elected on the first count?

The candidate with the least number of votes is eliminated. All his votes are redistributed among other candidates as indicated by the number two. In this case, all the votes – as opposed to a proportion – inherited by a candidate are added to his tally.

9. How does the process proceed?

At every round, votes of candidates that would have been elected in the previous count, or votes of those eliminated from the race, are redistributed. This is how your number one vote is then transferred to other candidates of your choice. Candidates keep totting up the votes they inherit with the aim of reaching the quota.

10. What happens if a candidate is elected on two districts?

Candidates can contest a maximum of two districts. Candidates elected on two districts will have to choose which district to give up. This vacates a parliamentary seat on the district. This exercise only happens after the vote counting process is over. To fill the seat left vacant by the elected candidate a casual election will then be held some days later, in which the votes of the elected candidate are redistributed to determine who will replace him or her.

11. Who wins the election?

The political party obtaining the highest number of votes (number ones) is the winner and this will be reflected in the number of parliamentary seats. This may change if none of the parties obtains an absolute majority (50%+1 of the votes) - in this case the party will form the government - and more than two parties are elected to Parliament (see Q13).

12. Is it possible for a party to get the most votes but return fewer candidates?

Yes. Our district-based voting system may give such results. It has happened in the past but changes to the Constitution over the years have ensured that the winning party is awarded extra parliamentary seats to make up for the shortfall. This is what happened in 1996 and 2008 when the winning party did not elect the highest number of candidates but was then awarded extra seats.

13. What happens if three political parties are elected to Parliament?

If more than two political parties have candidates elected to Parliament and none of them has an absolute majority, it is the party with the most seats that gets the chance to form a government. If it has the right numbers it can govern on its own, otherwise it can form a coalition with another party.

14. How is it that we know the winning party before all votes are counted?

When counting gets under way political parties will have people recording the number one votes on pieces of paper. As the distribution of number one votes progresses, the party officials will gradually build a very good sample across the 13 districts of how people voted. In this way they will be able to project trends and determine the amount of votes obtained by the parties. If the result is clear cut, party officials will be able to tell who won even before all number one votes are sorted.

15. On the ballot can I mark my preferred party with an X?

This will invalidate your vote. You can only use ascending numbers starting from one to indicate your voting preference. Any other mark will cancel your vote. Even writing or scribbling on the ballot paper will cancel your vote. Make sure to write the numbers clearly within the borders of the box.

16. What happens if I make a mistake while voting?

Do not try to rectify the mistake because you will spoil the vote. Cross off the ballot paper and immediately inform the electoral commissioners, who will be sitting in the room where you vote. You will have to hand over the spoilt ballot and they will give you another one instead.

Voting in numbers

• 333,006 eligible voters • 4,850 assistant electoral commissioners • 1,293 counting staff • 700 ballot boxes • 269 candidates contesting the election • 116 polling stations • 65 parliamentary seats to be filled • 3 political parties fielding candidates in all districts • 3 independent candidates