Maltese Expat Still Voting: A Loophole in Electoral Roll

In the heart of Malta’s capital, Valletta, at the bustling St. George’s Square, you’ll find the Grandmaster’s Palace. It’s here that the electoral roll is kept, a public record of Malta’s registered voters. But one name on that list has raised eyebrows. John Doe, a Maltese-born man who renounced his citizenship in 2015, is still listed as a registered voter.

John, now a naturalized British citizen living in London, was surprised to learn he was still on the electoral roll. “I thought I’d taken care of everything,” he told Hot Malta. In 2015, he went through the official process of renouncing his Maltese citizenship at the Public Registry in Floriana. Yet, five years later, he’s still eligible to vote in Malta.

The Electoral Commission, responsible for maintaining the electoral roll, confirmed John’s status. “Our records show that Mr. Doe’s name was not removed from the electoral roll after he renounced his citizenship,” a spokesperson said. The Commission attributed this to an administrative oversight, stating they would rectify the issue.

But is this an isolated incident? Hot Malta has learned of at least two other cases where individuals who renounced their Maltese citizenship remain on the electoral roll. The Electoral Commission assures that these are exceptional cases and that the system usually works as intended.

Dr. Joseph Aquilina, a constitutional lawyer, believes there might be a loophole at play. “The law states that a person ceases to be a Maltese citizen upon renunciation. However, it doesn’t explicitly mention the removal from the electoral roll,” he explained. He suggests that an amendment to the law might be necessary to close this potential loophole.

With the upcoming general election, this issue has gained traction. The Opposition has called for an investigation, while the ruling party has promised to look into the matter. The Electoral Commission has assured voters that the electoral roll will be up-to-date by election day.

“I hope this serves as a wake-up call,” John said. “It’s crucial that our electoral system is accurate and fair. I’m just one person, but there could be many more like me, and that’s not right.”