| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Il-Kamra Tad-Deputati / House of Representatives |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| LEGAL FRAMEWORK |
| Electoral Law |
27 September 1991
09.03.2018 |
| Mode of designation |
directly elected 65
other 3 |
| Constituencies |
13 multi-member (5 seats) constituencies ("divisions"). |
| Voting system |
Proportional:
Single-transferable-vote (STV).
Each elector indicates his/her order of preference among all the candidates in his/her electoral district regardless of candidates' political affiliation. In the first count, those who satisfy the Hagenbach-Bischoff quotient are declared elected. Should any seats remain vacant, the surplus votes polled by candidates already elected are transferred proportionately to the remaining candidates on the basis of the second preferences indicated. The votes thus transferred are added to those polled by each remaining candidate. The candidate (candidates) who now possesses (possess) a number of votes equal to, or greater than the quotient is (are) elected. Candidates with the lowest number of votes are eliminated and their votes are transferred to the other remaining candidates according to the next preference shown on the ballot paper. The same operation is repeated until there are no more seats to be filled.
In cases where two parties win parliamentary representation in a given general election, additional members may be elected in accordance with the Constitution to ensure that the party with the majority of first preference votes secures a one-seat majority in the House of Representatives.
The additional seats are given to the remaining unelected candidates of the winning party irrespective of the district contested.
Candidates to the general elections may contest no more than two districts. In case they are elected from two districts, they will choose one district that they will represent after the elections. The seats vacated by these candidates will be filled by "casual elections" prior to the first session of the House of Representatives (which must be held within two months of the announcement of the official results of the general elections to the President). Any unsuccessful candidates in the general elections may run for their district's casual election. In practice, however, only the candidates from the party that vacated the seat contest the casual elections (thus the overall election results are not affected). To be elected in the casual elections, candidates must obtain more than 50 per cent of the total votes cast. Other vacancies arising between general elections are filled through by-elections.
Voting is not compulsory. |
| Voter requirements |
- age: 16 years
- Maltese citizenship
- residence in the country (for a continuous period of six months, or for periods amounting in the aggregate to six months, during the 18 months immediately preceding registration as elector)
- disqualifications: insanity, sentence of death or imprisonment exceeding 12 months, conviction for elections-connected offence |
| CANDIDATES |
| Eligibility |
Qualified electors
- age: 18 years
- Maltese citizenship
- disqualifications: allegiance to a foreign State, undischarged bankruptcy |
| Incompatibilities |
- holders of public office
- members of the armed forces
- certain government contractors
- officials connected with the conduct of the elections |
| Candidacy requirements |
- nomination by four voters registered in the same electoral division
- deposit equivalent to approximately US$ 100, which is reimbursed if the number of votes obtained exceeds 1/10 of the applicable electoral quotient for the division. |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Electoral system module
