Malta heads to the polls on Saturday, May 30, 2026, with voting stations across the country set to open for 15 hours without interruption, from 7.00am to 10.00pm, giving the electorate an extended window to cast their ballots in the snap general election. The Electoral Commission has confirmed that voters must present the voting document delivered to their registered address in order to participate, and no one will be allowed to vote without it. Police officers delivered the documents between Monday, May 4 and Friday, May 15, 2026, between 8.00am and 1.00pm and again from 3.00pm to 9.00pm, with delivery made only to the address where the voter is officially registered. A responsible person over 16 years of age who is a relative, resides, or works at the address was required to sign for receipt on a mobile device provided by the officer.
Just over 340,000 voters are registered to elect 65 Members of Parliament to serve for the next five years, with the country split into 13 electoral districts each returning five MPs. The election was called by Prime Minister Robert Abela a year ahead of schedule, citing the uncertain international situation and challenges stemming from the Iran war and its impact on energy prices and inflation. Early voting took place on Saturday, May 23, 2026, for those who declared they would be abroad or hospitalised on polling day, with Maltese-registered voters casting ballots at the Vote Counting Complex in Naxxar and Gozo-registered voters at the Government Experimental Farm in Xewkija.
Voters as young as 16 are eligible to participate following electoral reforms, and the next Parliament will also include a higher proportion of female MPs under a new law stipulating that 40 per cent of MPs must be women, with a mechanism to co-opt them if not directly elected. On polling day, voters must attend the polling centre address indicated on their voting document and surrender it to the Assistant Electoral Commissioners before receiving a ballot. The Electoral Commission has reminded the public that impeding or preventing the free exercise of a voter’s right to vote constitutes an offence under law. With voting stations open continuously for 15 hours, electoral authorities aim to facilitate maximum turnout while accommodating work schedules and other commitments, as Malta decides which party will govern the EU’s smallest member state through the next five years.
