370,000 people eligible to vote in EP election

There are 371,625 people eligible to vote in the European Parliament election next May and this includes EU nationals registered to vote in Malta.

The electoral register was published by the Electoral Commission last Saturday and will be adjourned until the 24 May to include anyone who reaches the voting age of 16 by then.

Elections for the European Parliament and all 68 local councils will take place on 25 May and this is the first time that 16-year-olds will be able to vote.

In the 2017 general election there were 341,856 eligible voters while in the European Parliament election of five years ago, there were 344,356 eligible voters.

The electoral register for local councils released on the same day shows there are 433,581 people eligible to vote in these elections.

EU nationals can also vote in local elections but unlike in the EP elections, they do not need to register. This explains the large disparity in eligible voters, since EU nationals will have to de-register in their home country to be able to vote in Malta in the European Parliament election.

Voters can check online whether they are registered to vote and the Electoral Commission has said that any changes to the register should be communicated to the revising officer by 4 May.

Check here whether your name is listed in the electoral register.

Meanwhile, nominations for both elections open tomorrow and the Commission will receive names of prospective candidates until Monday 22 April.