Voter turnout yesterday dropped down to a record 93%, that is 3% less than five years ago, according to the approximate figures released late last night by the Electoral Commission.
This means around 9,000 fewer voters cast their vote yesterday when compared to the 2003 election registering one of the lowest turnouts ever.
Overall, most of the districts registered a 94% turnout but the districts that lowered the average further were the 12th and the 13th districts.
The district to suffer the lowest turnout was the 12th, comprising Mellieha, Naxxar and St Paul’s Bay – considered to be traditionally hunters’ districts. At 91%, the turnout went down by 4% compared to five years ago.
The 13th district comprising all of Gozo went down to 92%, that is 3% less than the last general election.
Districts 2 to 6 – which are traditionally Labour-leaning areas – maintained a stable 94% turnout.
At a glance it appears that Labour districts have managed to mobilise considerably more voters than their Nationalist counterparts.
Besides Gozo, the PN seems hardest hit in the 9th district where turnout dropped by 2%, to 93%, and the 10th where turnout dropped to 92%, registering a 3% drop.
A total of 5,266 voters or 1.7% did not collect their vote.
Local elections also held yesterday registered an 86% turnout.