Electoral Commission reforms registration system for EU voters

Alternattiva Demokratika says EU citizens resident in Malta can now register to vote in 2014 elections.

10 June 2011, 12:00am

1 min read

The Electoral Commission has reformed the registration system for EU citizens residents in Malta, Alternattiva Demokratika said in a statement.

Prof. Arnold Cassola, AD spokesperson on EU and international Affairs, said that at the last European elections held in 2009, hundreds of EU citizens resident in Malta had been struck off the electoral lists because of a restrictive and “wrong interpretation” by the Electoral Commission of the concept of voter registration.

“Alternattiva Demokratika is pleased to learn that the old system has been scrapped and now all EU residents in Malta will be able to register as voters for the European elections at any time and not only in the last six months prior to the elections, as was the case beforehand,” Cassola said.

He said that all EU residents wanting to vote in Malta in the 2014 European Parliament elections can register as from September 2011 onwards, when they will be going to renew their Maltese identity card. “This is a positive step forward with regards to transparency, participative democracy and the respect of the basic rights of all EU citizens,” Cassola said.

Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said that AD was proud to have played an important part through the European Greens and the European Commission, in ensuring that Malta abides by common EU norms on voting rights of EU citizens.

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chasbay1960 NO WAY. We cannot accept that foreigners decide what government we shall have. They may leave any time they like after lumping us with a government not of our choice.

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I think that the Electoral Law should change to reflect those EU citizens with a permanent address in Malta to vote also in General Elections. Afterall, being permanent residents, they should be allowed to have their say also on whom will govern them. Apart from this, amends should be done to have eligible Maltese voters working abroad to vote either by post or at the Maltese Embassy in the Country that they work in. at least, those who work in EU Countries.