Invalid votes cast in local elections more than double

The number of invalid votes in local elections has shot up from only 2,721 in 2012 to 7,294 now, an increase from 2.5% of votes cast in 2012 to 5.5% in the latest round of local elections.

The increase in invalid votes coincided with an increase in turnout from 59% in 2012 to 68% last month.  

The number of invalid votes in the concurrent hunting referendum, which had a higher overall turnout of 75%, amounted to just 2,509 or 1% of votes cast.

This suggests that a number of voters voted yes or no in the referendum but invalidated their vote in the local elections held at the same time.

These voters probably shied away from not picking their local council ballot paper in full view of party representatives, and chose to invalidate it instead.  

The highest rate of invalid votes was registered in Labour-led Kirkop and PN-led San Lawrenz and Ghajnsielem, where nearly 8% invalidated their vote.

High rates of invalid votes were registered in Gozo localities where Labour made substantial inroads, such as Munxar and Zebbug.  

Labour-led Marsaxlokk, which has seen the PN gaining ground over 2012, also saw 7% of voters invalidating their vote. This represented a four-point increase over 2012. This may suggest disgruntlement among Labour voters. Similarly in Zebbug the rate of invalid votes cast also increased by four points.

But a similar four-point increase in invalid votes was also registered in PN strongholds like Balzan and Swieqi. This could indicate that a number of PN-leaning voters who went to the polls because of the referendum could also have invalidated their votes.

High rates of invalid votes were also registered in the local elections in Mosta and St Paul’s Bay, two strongly contested localities which were won by the PN.