Europe-wide this weekend, Malta voted for six MEP seats which were up for grabs in the european parliament elections.
Meanwhile on Facebook, a trending hashtag #govote is popular with users posting selfies holding their voting document.
Archbishop Paul Cremona voted in Attard, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat voted in Burmarrad, President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca and Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil voted in Lija whereas AD chairman Arnold Cassola voted in Sliema.
It is estimated that 21,856 voting documents (6.3% of registered voters which are 344374) have remained uncollected, according to the Electoral Commission on news media.
For comparison: there were 322411 registered voters in the 2009 MEP elections and 15862 (4.9 per cent) uncollected voting documents.
According to the DOI (Department of Information), the total voter turnout by 2pm was of 33.83%.
Highest turnouts occured in districts 1, 4 and 10 with 39.63%, 38.19% and 35.80% respectively. The lowest turnout was in district 12 with 28.58%.
Voter turnout in 2009 up to 2pm was of 34% and in 2004 it was of 38%.
An interesting comment on observer Hermann Schiavone’s Facebook wall suggests that some voters voted early because of the Champions League Final. 🙂
Saturday’s whole day turnout was under 75 per cent, 4% points under 2009’s EU elections turnout and 17% below last year’s general election turnout. The turnout for the first EP elections in Malta, back in 2004, was of 82.4%.
Unofficial indications showed a Labour majority of 30,000 over PN, approximately 53%. PN won 40%, AD 3.5% and others 3.5%.
Opposition leader Simon Busuttil called Dr Muscat to congratulate him.
DOI issued the following approximate voting percentages:
| District | Percentage |
|---|---|
| 01 | 75.18% |
| 02 | 75.92% |
| 03 | 75.02% |
| 04 | 79.40% |
| 05 | 77.21% |
| 06 | 78.31% |
| 07 | 76.52% |
| 08 | 75.93% |
| 09 | 70.80% |
| 10 | 67.02% |
| 11 | 74.20% |
| 12 | 64.14% |
| 13 | 76.92% |
Approximate Total for all localities: 74.81%
Turnouts by District:
| District | Turnout Percentage |
|---|---|
| 1 | 75.18% |
| 2 | 75.92% |
| 3 | 75.02% |
| 4 | 79.40% |
| 5 | 77.21% |
| 6 | 78.31% |
| 7 | 76.52% |
| 8 | 75.93% |
| 9 | 70.80% |
| 10 | 67.02% |
| 11 | 74.20% |
| 12 | 64.14% |
| 13 | 76.92% |
First projections according to the DOI indicated two front runners: Alfred Sant (PL) and Roberta Metsola (PN).
This was the first time in Malta that women would have achieved a majority in a major election. Dr Therese Comodini Cachia joins Roberta Metsola (PN) and Labour’s Miriam Dalli and Marlene Mizzi. Other elected MEPs are Alfred Sant for PL and David Casa for PN.
