Alex Borg on the left (Miguela Xuereb); Lydia and Robert Abela on the right (Erika Lanzafame)Polling stations across Malta and Gozo have opened, with more than 341,000 voters eligible to decide whether the Labour Party secures an unprecedented fourth consecutive term – as party leaders cast their ballots and urged the public to turn out.
Voting began at 7am and will continue uninterrupted until 10pm. The Electoral Commission has reminded voters to bring their voting document along with a valid form of identification.
Nationalist Party leader Alex Borg was the first party leader to vote, casting his ballot at 9am at the Parish Hall in Munxar, Gozo. He was accompanied by Electoral Commissioner Salvu Sant and greeted by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, who later voted in Tas-Sliema.
“I urge everyone to vote so we can give Malta a fresh start,” Borg told journalists after voting.
Prime Minister Robert Abela voted shortly after 10am at a polling station in Żejtun, accompanied by his wife Lydia. In a video message posted to social media, Abela said voters “hold an important key in their hands” and “deserve to have a say in this country’s leadership”.
Momentum chairperson Arnold Cassola voted at 11am in Pembroke, accompanied by party secretary general Mark Camilleri Gambin. He called on voters to vote according to their conscience for the good of the country.
ADPD chairperson Sandra Gauci voted at around 12:30pm at Qawra Primary School, Maria Reġina College, accompanied by party official and candidate Luke Caruana. She urged people to participate in the democratic process to make their voices heard.
President of Malta Myriam Spiteri Debono voted at around 12:15pm in Birkirkara.
Meanwhile, long queues have been reported at the Gozo ferry terminal as many voters travelled to the island to cast their ballots.
Uncollected documents reach 15,000
More than 15,000 Maltese voters will not be casting a ballot today after failing to collect their voting documents by Thursday’s midnight deadline, according to data obtained from political party sources. The Electoral Commission has not yet published official figures.
The total of 15,312 uncollected documents represents 4.3% of registered voters, a modest increase from 4.1% in 2022. The figures continue a long-term trend: in 2017, just 8,372 documents went uncollected (2.4%), while in 2013 the figure was 6,523 (1.96%).
The district with the highest rate of uncollected documents is the 12th (St Paul’s Bay, Mellieħa, Mġarr), where 2,433 voters – 9.2% of the district’s electorate – did not collect their document, a pattern attributed to its large population of naturalised citizens. The 10th district (Sliema, St Julian’s, Gżira, Pembroke) recorded 7.2%, while the 9th district (Swieqi, Msida, San Ġwann, Għargħur) recorded 5.3%.
The districts with the lowest rates are Labour-leaning southern areas: the 6th district (Qormi, Siġġiewi, Luqa) at just 2.5%, followed by the 4th and 7th districts at around 2.6% and 2.7%.
The day began with the sealing of ballot boxes at 6:40am, carried out in the presence of electoral officials to ensure the integrity of the vote. After polling closes at 10pm, ballot boxes will be sealed again before being transported to the counting hall in Naxxar, where the vote count will begin.
Key facts and figures
A total of 162 candidates are contesting the election across 13 electoral districts, each returning five members of parliament. Six political parties are fielding candidates, alongside two independents.
The electorate has grown by 1,757 voters since the 2022 general election. Early voting for police officers and Assistant Electoral Commissioners saw a turnout of 83.64%, with 956 of 1,143 registered voters casting their ballots in hospitals across Malta and Gozo.
Malta has held 25 general elections since 1921, when the country’s first constitution establishing self-government was enacted. Since independence in 1964, there have been 19 legislatures. Today, voters will elect the 20th.
RTK103 and Newsbook Malta are providing live, comprehensive coverage throughout election day and into the night. Reporters are stationed at polling stations across Malta and Gozo, bringing real-time updates on voter turnout and queue lengths. Live video feeds from key locations will run throughout the day.
Once polling closes at 10pm, coverage will shift to the counting hall in Naxxar, where Newsbook will track the tally as results emerge district by district.
Readers can follow all developments on the Newsbook Malta website and across its social media channels, including Facebook for additional video, photo and text updates.
