2024 elections: Malta heads to the polls for MEP and Local Council elections

On Saturday (today), Malta will be heading to the polls as voting for the MEP and Local Council elections is taking place.

Voting hours are between 7am and 10pm without interruption. Anyone over the age of 16 is eligible to cast a vote.

Voters are advised to attend the polling centre address indicated on their voting document.

According to the rules, for every voter who needs assistance to cast their ballot from the Assistant Electoral Commissioners, ten voters who do not require assistance may also be present within the Polling Booth rooms which each host a number of private voting cubicles.

Earlier this week, the Electoral Commission reminded the public that every person who impedes or prevents a voter’s right to vote in these elections shall be guilty of an offence in accordance with the law.

The MEP election

Out of 39 candidates, voters will elect six Members of the European Parliament.

The Labour Party has nine candidates:

• Claudette Abela Baldacchino

• Alex Agius Saliba

• Daniel Attard

• Clint Azzopardi Flores

• Thomas Bajada

• Jesmond Bonello

• Steve Ellul

• Jesmond Marshall

• Marija Sara Vella Gafa

The Nationalist Party has eight candidates:

• David Agius

• Roberta Metsola

• Peter Agius

• Lee Bugeja Bartolo

• Miriana Calleja Testaferrata de Noto

• Norma Camilleri

• David Casa

• Louise Anne Pulis

ADPD has four candidates:

• Ralph Cassar

• Rachelle Deguara

• Sandra Gauci

• Mina Jack Tolu

Abba has two candidates:

• Ivan Grech Mintoff

• Antonia Gauci

Volt has one candidate

• Matthias Iannis Portelli

Imperium Europa has two candidates:

• Norman Lowell

• Terrence Portelli

There are also 13 independent candidates:

• Noel Apap

• Malcolm Bezzina

• Nazzareno (Zaren) Bonnici

• Conrad Borg Manché

• Arnold Cassola

• Alexander D’Agata

• Radu Gheorghe

• George Grixti

• Stephen Florian

• Simon Mercieca

• James Michael Muscat (Ryder)

• Edwin Vassallo

• Adrian Zammit

The Local Councils election

Overall, the public will be electing 476 councillors from 68 local councils across the islands.

This will mark an increase of 12 councillors when compared to the 2019 elections as it reflects a change in composition of eight councils. Seven councils will have two additional councillors.  

These changes were implemented based on an established formula that reflects the changes in population numbers of localities in the past five years. Overall, the amount of councillors in each locality will vary between five, seven, nine, 11 or 13 councillors.

In addition, for the first time in Malta’s electoral history, councillors aged 16 and over were allowed to run for council.