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After Galea’s lapsus, can electronic voting solve mistakes in parliament? There is no guarantee that an electronic voting system could solve the issue of mistaken voting in the Maltese parliament.Speaker Michael Frendo says he favours an electronic voting system, but the Italian satirical TV programme Le Iene had revealed how Italian MPs were voting for their absent colleagues, by pressing the buttons on their electronic voting system. No system, it seems, can be free from some form of controversy. Nationalist parliamentary group whip David Agius says parliament could adopt the UK’s House of Commons model to avoid problems in its voting system, where MPs vote yes or no by walking through the appropriate door. To make voting easier, Agius has proposed, the party whips could stand next to the appropriate doors so that MPs make no mistake on voting. The European Parliament adopts several voting systems, but its electronic voting system is not necessarily the only one used. Normally, the EP votes by show of hands. But if the President decides that the result is doubtful, a fresh vote will be taken using the electronic voting system and, if the latter is not working, by sitting and standing. Voting is by word of mouth and is expressed by “Yes”, “No”, or “I abstain”. In calculating whether a motion has been adopted or rejected, account is only taken of votes cast for and against. Where an electronic vote is taken, only the numerical result of the vote shall be recorded. However, a vote by roll call can be requested if a majority of MEPs present so request. After the result of a vote by show of hands has been announced, an MEP may request that this result be checked using the electronic voting system. Voting uncertainty in the Maltese parliament dominated the past week’s newspapers when deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg called a point of order to claim Labour MP Justyne Caruana had voted against the Opposition’s motion in the power station debate. Voting had already finished, and Nationalist MP Mario Galea had mistakenly voted in favour of the Labour motion. Speaker Michael Frendo did not read out the result of the vote, and instead decided to hear the parliamentary recordings to see whether Caruana had voted against the motion. Frendo later emerged saying the recordings were inaudible since the microphones had been switched off, and ordered a re-vote. This decision prompted a walkout by Labour, which has now withdrew deputy speaker Carmelo Abela and stopped its participation in the Select Committee on strengthening democracy. Frendo has said that MPs will now be asked to declare their vote straight into a microphone. Any comments? |
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Managing editor Saviour Balzan | Tel. ++356 21382741 | Fax: ++356 21385075 | Email
Managing editor Saviour Balzan | Tel. ++356 21382741 | Fax: ++356 21385075 | Email