Man Still on Electoral Roll After Renouncing Maltese Citizenship
Man Who Gave Up Maltese Citizenship: Still on Electoral Roll, Still in Limbo
Imagine this: You’ve decided to renounce your Maltese citizenship. You’ve gone through the legal processes, paid the fees, and even bid a tearful goodbye to your loved ones. You think it’s all over. But then, you receive a letter in the mail. It’s an electoral card. You’re still on the electoral roll. What’s going on?
From Renunciation to Surprise
This was the reality for Malta resident, John Doe (not his real name), who renounced his Maltese citizenship in 2019. After completing the necessary paperwork and paying the €500 renunciation fee, he assumed his Maltese journey had come to an end. But last month, he received a surprise in the mail – an electoral card for the upcoming local council elections.
“I was shocked,” John told Hot Malta. “I thought I’d made it clear I no longer wanted to be a part of Malta’s political process. I didn’t expect to receive an electoral card.”
Navigating the System
John isn’t alone in his confusion. According to the Electoral Commission, there are currently around 500 individuals on the electoral roll who have renounced their Maltese citizenship. The process of removing these individuals from the roll is a complex one, involving multiple departments and a significant backlog.
“We’re working through the list as quickly as we can,” a spokesperson for the Electoral Commission told Hot Malta. “But with limited resources and a high volume of renunciations, it’s a slow process.”
The process involves cross-referencing renunciation records with the electoral roll, a task made more difficult by the fact that some renunciations are handled by the Department of Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs, while others go through the Maltese embassies abroad.
Impact and Next Steps
For John and others in his situation, the continued presence on the electoral roll isn’t just a surprise – it’s a concern. “I don’t want to be voting in a country I no longer call home,” John said. “And I don’t want to be counted as a Maltese citizen when it comes to deciding who gets a seat in Parliament.”
The Electoral Commission has assured those affected that they will be removed from the roll as soon as possible. In the meantime, they advise anyone who has renounced their citizenship and still receives electoral material to contact the Electoral Commission directly.
As for John, he’s planning to vote in his new home country this year. “I’ve made a new life here,” he said. “I should have a say in how it’s run.”
