The Inter-Parliamentary Union at http://www.ipu.org has all sorts of information about most national legislative bodies (especially details about election systems). See the ParLine database link and the electoral system sublinks. A sample--- -------- http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2203_B.htm MALTA ELECTORAL SYSTEM Chamber: Il-Kamra Tad-Deputati Electoral Law: 27.09.91 Constituencies: 13 multi-member (5 seats) constituencies ("divisions"). Voting system: Single-transferable-vote form of proportional representation. Under this system, each elector indicates his order of preference among all the candidates in his electoral division. In the first count, those who satisfy the Hagenbach-Bischoff quotient are declared elected. Should any seats remain to be filled, 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 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. If necessary, "bonus seats" are allocated to any party receiving more than 50% of the total votes cast in an election to ensure that it secure the greatest number of House seats. Vacancies arising between general elections are filled through by-elections. Voting is not compulsory Voter requirements: - age: 18 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 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. Choose one of the thematic modules below for further information grouped by category. Alternatively, you can access the full text of the PARLINE data about this parliament (downloading will take longer). General Information | Last Elections Presidency of the Parliament | Parliamentary Mandate | Full text PARLINE database: new search Copyright c 1999 Inter-Parliamentary Union
