The approximate final turnout of voters for the 2008 general elections stood at 93%, according to official figures released by the Electoral Commission. The overall turnout for the 2003 election was 96%.

A total of 309,016 voters were eligible to vote on Saturday. Meanwhile 97,081 eligible voters were entitled to vote for this year’s local council elections.

Direct comparisons between the 2003 general elections and the 2008 turnouts cannot be made since this year’s election is the first one following a change in the composition of particular districts.

Among the localities that have shifted districts are Fgura, which moved from the second to the third district; Ghaxaq, from the fifth to the fourth; Mdina, from the seventh to the 11th district; Gzira, from the ninth to the 10th district; Swieqi, from the 10th to the ninth district; Siggiewi, from the seventh to the sixth district; Attard, from the seventh to the 11th district and Rabat from the 11th to the seventh district.

In 2003, Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11 had a turnout of 96%. 97% of the electorate voted in District 7 while districts 9, 10, 12, 13 had a turnout of 95%.

The turnouts by 23:00CET for the General Elections 2008 for each district is as follows:
District 1: 93%
District 2: 94%
District 3: 94%
District 4: 94%
District 5: 94%
District 6: 94%
District 7: 94%
District 8: 94%
District 9: 93%
District 10: 92%
District 11: 94%
District 12: 91%
District 13: 92%

Meanwhile, the final turnout of all localities for local council elections was 86% compared to 68% in 2005.

Percentage turnouts by 23:00 CET for each locality comparing 2005 and 2008 (excluding Marsa and Zejtun) as published by the Electoral Commission were as follows:

In Malta:
Balzan: 2005: 65%; 2008: 89%
Dingli: 2005: 80%; 2008: 94%
Iklin: 2005: 70%; 2008: 91%
Kirkop: 2005: 77%; 2008: 93%
Marsa: 2005: NIL; 2008: 90%
Mellieha: 2005: 71%; 2008: 81%
Mqabba: 2005: 78%; 2008: 92%
Pembroke: 2005: 68%; 2008: 89%
Qrendi: 2005: 82%; 2008: 94%
Senglea: 2005: 71%; 2008: 89%
St. Julian’s: 2005: 54%; 2008: 77%
St. Paul’s Bay: 2005: 44%; 2008:68%
Sta. Venera: 2005: 65%; 2008: 92%
Ta’ Xbiex: 2005: 69%; 2008: 86%
Valletta: 2005: 68%; 2008: 88%
Zebbug: 2005: 72%; 2008: 92%
Zejtun: 2005: NIL; 2008: 92%
Zurrieq: 2005: 75%; 2008: 92%

In Gozo:
Fontana: 2005: 81%; 2008: 90%
Ghajnsielem: 2005: 74%; 2008: 83%
Ghasri: 2005: 75%; 2008: 78%
Nadur: 2005: 81%; 2008: 85%
Xewkija: 2005: 75%; 2008: 89%

All Vodafone customers who send a blank SMS to 50902008 will receive SMS updates with breaking news on the General Elections. They can request General Election information relevant to their own district by sending an SMS to 50902008 with their district number as text i.e. from 1 to 13. Information on the chosen district will be updated by SMS until the official result is issued.

Vodafone’s service will include updates by the Electoral Commission, first count votes and the members of Parliament elected. Each SMS costs €0.12 (Lm0.05).

For more details, including pictures and videos of the electoral campaign 2008, see MaltaMedia's special feature on the 2008 Malta General Elections.