Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545122
MALTA and Gozo head to the polls tomorrow for the 2026 general election, with voters casting their ballots to decide the country's next parliament and government. Polling stations will open at 7am and close at 10pm. Eligible voters are required to take their voting document with them in order to be able to cast their vote. Without the voting doc- ument, individuals will not be permitted to vote. The docu- ment also indicates the polling station where each person is as- signed to vote. The total number of eligible voters stands at 356,832, rep- resenting an increase of 1,767 over the 355,075 registered voters in the 2022 election. Of those eligible to vote, 18,620 are first-time voters. The election is being contest- ed by the Labour Party, the Na- tionalist Party, ADPD, Momen- tum and Aħwa Maltin that have fielded candidates in all 13 elec- toral districts. Two independ- ent candidates and a candidate for Imperium Europa are also contesting. A total of 282 can- didatures have been submitted with some candidates contest- ing on two districts. Voters will be able to cast their vote in 852 ballot boxes across Malta and Gozo. Special arrangements will be in place at polling stations to assist certain voters. Individuals aged 75 and over will be given priority in queues throughout the day. Voters aged between 60 and 75, as well as persons with a disability, will be given priority access between 1pm and 5pm. Electronic devices are not permitted inside polling sta- tions, and taking photographs is strictly prohibited. After polling stations close at 10pm, attention will then turn to the counting process that will take place at the Naxxar Count- ing Hall, where all ballot boxes will be transported. Ballot scanning will start on Sunday at 9am. SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL FRIDAY 29 MAY 2026 • ISSUE 098 • PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY gozotoday €1.00 Personal Loans NEW BOAT? All loans are subject to normal bank lending criteria and final approval from the Bank. The term of the loan must not go beyond re rement age. Issued by Bank of Valle a p.l.c. 58, Triq San Żakkarija, Il-Belt Valle a VLT 1130. Bank of Valle a p.l.c. is regulated by the MFSA and licensed to carry out the business of banking in terms of the Banking Act (Cap. 371 of the Laws of Malta). Compe ve Interest Rates Gozo heads to the polls on Saturday Tourism activity in Gozo increased in the first quarter of 2026 LAURA CALLEJA lcalleja@mediatoday.com.mt TOURISM activity in Gozo in- creased in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, according to the National Statistics Office (NSO). Total guests staying in col- lective accommodation estab- lishments in Gozo and Comi- no reached 24,979, an increase of 15% over the first quarter of 2025. LAURA CALLEJA lcalleja@mediatoday.com.mt CONTINUES PAGE 3 GozoToday will not be published next week.