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Malta
- Boundary Delimitation
- Direct Democracy
- Electoral Management
- Electoral Systems
- Legislative Framework
- Media and Elections
- Parties and Candidates
- Vote Counting
- Voter Education
- Voting Operations
- Voter Registration
Boundary Delimitation
BD01 Are constituencies delimited for election purposes?
a. Yes
Source: Elections Act, art. 17
Last updated: 2007-02-12 18:33:17 UTC
BD03 On what criteria are the boundaries drawn?
a. "Equality" of population
g. Other
Comments: Constitution, art. 61: "(4) An alteration of the boundaries of any electoral division under this article shall be made in such manner as secures that, at the time when the Commission carries out its review, the number obtained by dividing the total electorate in the division (as ascertained by reference to the electoral register in force at that time) by the number of members to be returned to the House of Representatives from that division is as nearly equal to the electoral quota as is reasonably practicable: Provided that any such alteration may be made in such manner that the number of voters in that division is, at the time when the Commission carries out its review, greater or less than the electoral quota multiplied by the number of members to be so returned, but in no case by more than five per centum, in order to take account of geographical vicinity, differences in density of population and other relevant factors."
Source: Constitution, art. 61
Last updated: 2007-02-12 18:33:17 UTC
Direct Democracy
DD01 Please provide information about the person completing the questionnaire.
a. Name and Title: Mr George Saliba
b. Job Title: Assistant Director
c. Organisation: Electoral Office
d. Contact Address. Evans Bldg, St Elmo Place, Valletta CMR 02 Malta
e. Telephone: 21231245
f. Facsimile: 21248457
g. Email: [email protected]
Last updated: 2006-11-22 12:55:08 UTC
DD02 Which forms of direct democracy, if any, are currently possible at the national level?
Please check the glossary for the definition of the following terms:
a. Mandatory referendum
b. Optional referendum
c. Citizens' initiative
Source: Article 66 of the Constitution of Malta; Art. 3 of the Referenda Act (Cap. 237); Art. 14 of the Referenda Act (Cap. 237)
Last updated: 2006-11-22 13:09:07 UTC
DD03 What is the legal basis for mandatory referendums at the national level?
a. Constitutional
Source: Article 66 of the Constitution of Malta
Last updated: 2006-11-22 13:07:33 UTC
DD04 What is the legal basis for optional referendums at the national level?
b. Specific laws/legislation
Comments: b) The Referenda Act.
Source: Art. 3 of the Referenda Act (Cap. 237)
Last updated: 2006-11-22 13:08:18 UTC
DD05 What is the legal basis for citizens' initiatives at the national level?
b. Specific laws/legislation
Comments: b) The Referenda Act.
Source: Art. 14 of the Referenda Act (Cap. 237)
Last updated: 2006-11-22 13:09:07 UTC
DD06 What is the legal basis for agenda initiatives at the national level?
e. Not applicable
Last updated: 2006-11-22 13:22:55 UTC
DD07 What is the legal basis for recalls at the national level?
e. Not applicable
Last updated: 2006-11-22 13:22:55 UTC
DD13 When were direct democracy mechanisms first introduced into the legal framework at the national level?
Date (yyyy)
a. Mandatory referendum 1964
b. Optional referendum 1996
Comments: b) The Referenda Act, introducing the possibility of holding abrogative referendums.
Source: The Constitution of Malta; the Referenda Act
Last updated: 2006-11-22 13:36:46 UTC
DD17 Are mandatory referendums currently possible at first tier (regions/states/provinces, etc) authority level?
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
Source: Art. 6 of the Referenda Act (Cap. 237)
Last updated: 2006-11-22 13:28:40 UTC
DD18 Are optional referendums currently possible at first tier (regions/states/provinces, etc) authority level?
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
Source: Art. 6 of the Referenda Act (Cap. 237)
Last updated: 2006-11-22 13:28:40 UTC
DD19 Are citizens' initiatives currently possible at first tier (regions/states/provinces, etc) authority level?
a. Yes, in all regions/states/provinces
Source: Art. 6 of the Referenda Act (Cap. 237)
Last updated: 2006-11-22 13:28:40 UTC
DD20 Are agenda initiatives currently possible at first tier (regions/states/provinces, etc) authority level?
c. No
Last updated: 2006-11-22 13:28:40 UTC
DD21 Are recalls currently possible at first tier (regions/states/provinces, etc) authority level?
c. No
Last updated: 2006-11-22 13:28:40 UTC
DD22 Are mandatory referendums currently possible at local (municipalities/districts/communes, etc) authority level?
a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes
Source: Art. 6 of the Referenda Act (Cap. 237)
Last updated: 2006-11-22 13:28:40 UTC
DD23 Are optional referendums currently possible at local (municipalities/districts/communes, etc) authority level?
a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes
Source: Art. 6 of the Referenda Act (Cap. 237)
Last updated: 2006-11-22 13:28:40 UTC
DD24 Are citizens' initiatives currently possible at local (municipalities/districts/communes, etc) authority level?
a. Yes, in all municipalities/districts/communes
Source: Art. 6 of the Referenda Act (Cap. 237)
Last updated: 2006-11-22 13:28:40 UTC
DD25 Are agenda initiatives currently possible at local (municipalities/districts/communes, etc) authority level?
c. No
Last updated: 2006-11-22 13:28:40 UTC
DD26 Are recalls currently possible at local (municipalities/districts/communes, etc) authority level?
c. No
Last updated: 2006-11-22 13:28:40 UTC
DD28 What are the issues, if any, in relation to which referendums are optional at the national level?
a. Constitutional amendments
i. Other public policy issues
Source: The Constitution of Malta and the Referenda Act (Cap. 237)
Last updated: 2006-11-22 13:26:36 UTC
DD29 Which issues, if any, are excluded from being the subject of referendums at the national level?
k. None
Last updated: 2006-11-22 13:37:55 UTC
Electoral Management
EM01 Please provide the following contact information for the national electoral management body:
a. Name of Institution Electoral Commission
b. Full Address Evans Building, St Elmo Place, Valetta CMR 02
c. Telephone 00356 21 221994
d. Facsimile 00 356 21 248457
e. Email [email protected]
f. Website Address http://www.electoral.gov.mt/
Last updated: 2007-02-12 18:24:59 UTC
EM02 Does this national electoral body have the responsibility for elections at:
a. National level
Source: Elections Act, art. 7
Last updated: 2007-02-12 18:24:59 UTC
EM06 The term of the members of the national electoral management body is:
b. For a term of _________ years
Comments: b) Three years
Source: International IDEA (2006) "Election Management Design"
Last updated: 2007-02-12 18:24:59 UTC
EM08 According to official sources, what was the estimated overall cost (in US dollars if available) of the most recent national elections?
Last updated: 2007-02-12 18:24:59 UTC
EM09 What was the total number of registered voters or, where there was no voter roll, the estimated number of eligible voters?
Last updated: 2007-02-12 18:24:59 UTC
Electoral Systems
Media and Elections
ME01 Please provide information about the person completing the questionnaire.
Last updated: 2007-01-17 10:51:05 UTC
ME11 What laws, if any, guarantee freedom of access to public information for representatives of the media?
Last updated: 2007-01-17 10:51:05 UTC
ME13 What are the laws, if any, which govern the operations of the public broadcaster?
Specify the date of the latest version (including latest amendments)
Last updated: 2007-01-17 10:51:05 UTC
ME18 What are the laws, if any, that provide for the safeguards for editorial autonomy in relation to the public broadcaster(s)?
Last updated: 2007-01-17 10:51:05 UTC
ME19 What are the laws, if any, which govern the granting of broadcasting licenses/frequencies to private broadcasters?
Last updated: 2007-01-17 10:51:05 UTC
ME22 What are the legal conditions, if any, under which the activities of a media outlet may be suspended?
Last updated: 2007-01-17 10:51:05 UTC
ME37 What are the criteria for allocating free broadcast time and/or free printed advertisement space to political parties?
c. Based on result of previous election
g. Other (specify)
Comments: c, d) Applies to free broadcast time on state television and radion. g) New political parties are given free broadcast time on an ad hoc basis.
Source: International IDEA (2003) "Funding of Political Parties and Election Campaigns"
Last updated: 2007-01-17 10:51:05 UTC
ME38 What, if any, is the maximum amount that a political party is permitted to spend on paid advertising during a campaign period?
Last updated: 2007-01-17 10:51:05 UTC
ME55 What, if any, is the maximum amount that a presidential candidate is permitted to spend on paid advertising?
Last updated: 2007-01-17 10:51:05 UTC
ME56 What are the laws, if any, which govern the disclosure of campaign advertising expenditures by political parties and candidates?
Last updated: 2007-01-17 10:51:05 UTC
ME57 What, if any, is the maximum amount that a media outlet can charge parties/candidates for advertising during the campaign?
Last updated: 2007-01-17 10:51:05 UTC
ME58 How does this maximum amount (identified in question C.15.1) affect the political participation of smaller or newly formed parties?
Last updated: 2007-01-17 10:51:05 UTC
Parties and Candidates
PC01 What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
a. Signature requirement (specify requirement)
Comments: a) Nomination by four voters registered in the same electoral division; b) Deposit equivalent to approximately US$ 100, which is reimbursed if the number of votes obtained exceeds 1/10 of the applicable electoral quotient for the division.
Source: IPU Parline Database: http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2203.htm
Last updated: 2007-01-12 16:07:22 UTC
PC02 What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 2)?
g. Not applicable
Comments: Unicameral parliamentary system
Source: IPU Parline Database: http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2203.htm
Last updated: 2007-01-12 16:07:22 UTC
PC03 What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
a. Age
b. Citizenship
j. Other
Comments: a) 18 years; j) Qualified electors
Source: IPU Parline Database: http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2203.htm
Last updated: 2007-01-12 16:07:22 UTC
PC04 What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 2)?
k. Not applicable
Comments: Unicameral parliamentary system
Source: IPU Parline Database: http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2203.htm
Last updated: 2007-01-12 16:07:22 UTC
PC12 Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
c. Indirect
Source: International IDEA (2003) "Funding of Political Parties and Election Campaigns"
Last updated: 2006-11-15 13:28:47 UTC
PC15 What is the basis of the public funding?
b. Based on result of previous election
e. Other
Comments: e) New parties get free medaia time on an ad hoc basis
Source: International IDEA (2003) "Funding of Political Parties and Election Campaigns"
Last updated: 2006-11-15 13:29:09 UTC
Voting Operations
VO03 Where can electors vote?
a. At a specified polling station in the locality where they are registered at national elections
Source: Elections Act, art. 64
Last updated: 2007-02-14 10:30:00 UTC
VO04 Who can vote from outside the country?
a. Outside the country voting is not permitted
Source: International IDEA research, January 2007
Last updated: 2007-02-02 09:48:07 UTC
VO05 If voting outside the country is permitted, at what places?
g. Not applicable
Source: International IDEA research, January 2007
Last updated: 2007-02-02 09:48:07 UTC
VO10 Is there a maximum allowable voter capacity of a polling station for the national elections?
Last updated: 2007-02-02 09:48:07 UTC
VO11 How do electors cast their votes?
a. By manually marking the ballot
Source: Elections Act, art. 68
Last updated: 2007-02-12 18:54:37 UTC
Voter Registration
VR02 Beyond age, what other qualifications exist for registering to vote and voting in the national elections?
a. Citizenship
b. Period of Residence
Comments: b) Residence in the country (for a continuous period of six months, or for periods amounting in the aggregate to six months, during the 18 months immediately preceding registration as elector)
Source: IPU Parline database: http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2203.htm
Last updated: 2007-02-12 18:36:48 UTC
VR03 What restrictions on registering to vote and voting exist in the country?
a. Criminal Incarceration
b. Previous Conviction
d. Mental disability
Comments: a, b) Imprisonment exceeding 12 months, conviction for elections-connected offence
Source: IPU Parline database: http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2203.htm
Last updated: 2007-02-12 18:36:48 UTC
VR04 Which is the authority responsible for the registration of voters for national elections?
d. Election Management Body (specify)
Comments: d) The Electoral Commission
Source: Elections Act, art. 21
Last updated: 2007-02-12 18:36:12 UTC
May 20, 2008 08:19 AM
