Malta registered a significant increase in voter participation in the 2026 General Election, with turnout rising across all 13 electoral districts compared to the previous election held in 2022.
According to Electoral Commission figures, an estimated 87.42% of eligible voters cast their ballot, reversing the downward trend witnessed in recent elections and marking the first increase in turnout since 2003.
A total of 311,949 votes were cast from an electorate of 356,832 voters. Despite the higher participation rate, around 15,500 registered voters did not collect their voting document and were therefore unable to vote.
In comparison, turnout in the 2022 General Election stood at 85.6%, the lowest level recorded since Independence. This year’s figure represents an increase of approximately 1.8 percentage points.
Turnout rises in every district
The increase was recorded in every electoral district, with some of the strongest gains registered in Gozo and the northern districts.
The largest increase was recorded in the Thirteenth District (Gozo and Comino), where turnout climbed from 86.14% in 2022 to 89.43% this year, an increase of 3.29 percentage points.
The Twelfth District also registered a substantial rise, increasing by 3.01 points from 78.38% to 81.39%, although it remained the district with the lowest turnout nationally.
Another notable increase was recorded in the Eleventh District, where turnout rose by 2.79 percentage points to reach 87.58%.
District 7 records highest turnout
The Seventh District registered the highest turnout nationwide, with 89.73% of eligible voters casting their ballot, up from 87.59% in 2022.
Other districts surpassing the 89% mark included the Fifth District (89.48%) and the Thirteenth District (89.43%).
Traditionally Labour-leaning districts also recorded strong participation levels, with turnout exceeding 88% in the Second, Third, Fourth, Sixth and Eighth districts.
Lowest turnout remains in District 12
For the second consecutive general election, the Twelfth District recorded the lowest turnout. Nevertheless, participation still increased by more than three percentage points compared to 2022.
The Ninth and Tenth Districts, both traditionally considered Nationalist strongholds, also recorded relatively lower turnout figures at 85.47% and 82.58% respectively.
Turnout Comparison by District
| District | 2022 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 85.95% | 87.43% | +1.48 |
| 2 | 87.10% | 88.87% | +1.77 |
| 3 | 86.36% | 88.31% | +1.95 |
| 4 | 86.87% | 88.69% | +1.82 |
| 5 | 87.36% | 89.48% | +2.12 |
| 6 | 87.53% | 88.89% | +1.36 |
| 7 | 87.59% | 89.73% | +2.14 |
| 8 | 86.05% | 88.25% | +2.20 |
| 9 | 83.70% | 85.47% | +1.77 |
| 10 | 80.86% | 82.58% | +1.72 |
| 11 | 84.79% | 87.58% | +2.79 |
| 12 | 78.38% | 81.39% | +3.01 |
| 13 | 86.14% | 89.43% | +3.29 |
With polling stations now closed, ballot boxes have been transferred to the Naxxar Counting Hall where the counting process will commence at 9am on Sunday.
Sports Editor
Veteran Journalist
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