Nomination of Candidates 2026
GENERAL ELECTION 2026
Saturday, 30th May, 2026
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES
The following information and guidelines are of a general nature that concerns the rights and obligations of candidates and are issued WITHOUT PREJUDICE as a means to assist prospective candidates, henceforth referred to as “candidate/s”.
Therefore, since the individual is bound to the provisions of the relative laws, candidates are urged to familiarise themselves with the General Elections Act (Cap. 354).
This document is issued as on 2nd May 2026 and may be reviewed after this date. In this document, all references to the male gender also apply to other genders.
1. Those persons wishing to receive the Press Releases issued by the Electoral Commission by means of email are requested to indicate their interest by sending an email to [email protected]. Alternatively they may directly subscribe from the Commission’s website at www.electoral.gov.mt.
2. Completed nomination forms by prospective candidates shall be received by the Electoral Commission at its Offices in the Counting Complex, Ex-Trade Fair Grounds in Naxxar, according to the following schedule:-
Thursday 7th, Friday 8th, Saturday 9th, Sunday 10th and Monday 11th May, 2026, from 9.00 a.m. till 1.00 p.m. and from 3.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m.
The candidate may also apply online using their eID through the Electoral Commission’s website www.electoral.gov.mt, where they can find and follow the instructions. Alternatively, the candidate must appear in person before a Commissioner at the Electoral Commission’s Office at the Naxxar Counting Complex, during the specified days and times. The forms can be obtained from the Electoral Commission’s Office and are also available on the website by downloading them from respective links below.
Candidate Agent Nomination Form
3. The nomination form must be filled in and signed by the candidate. If sick or abroad during the days indicated at para. 2, the nomination form may be signed and presented by the candidate’s representative who must produce a power of attorney specifically for this purpose which must be endorsed by a notary public or a commissioner for oaths. The nomination form must also be signed by four (4) voters registered in the General Elections Electoral Register published on 1st May, 2026. The candidate bears the responsibility of the form’s correctness in details and signatures according to Law.
4. The candidate must insert his name and surname, his Identity Card number, his address as it appears on the Electoral Register mentioned in para. 3, and his occupation.
5. The candidate may include other indications that may assist the voters in recognition and to distinguish himself from other candidates. Such inclusions (eg nickname), need to be approved by the Electoral Commission.
6. If a candidate is contesting the election in the interest of a political party which is registered with the Electoral Commission, that candidate must insert the name of said party in the appropriate section of the nomination paper while the Nominating Officer appointed by the same party for this purpose shall inform the Commission in writing of their approved candidates by not later than the 11th May, 2026.
7. A deposit of ninety euros (€90) must be made by each candidate with his nomination. This deposit is reimbursed only if the candidate is elected or if he achieves more than 1/10 of the votes cast divided by the number of members to be elected (5).
Example:
Votes Cast: 21,542 ¸ 10 = 2,154.2
21,542.2 ¸ 5 = 430 (431)
8. Independent candidates may submit to the Electoral Commission up to Saturday 9th May, 2026, separate lists of persons nominated to serve as:
- Assistant Electoral Commissioners (A completed and signed application form must be supplied with the list for every person proposed).
- Counting Staff (A completed and signed application form must be supplied with the list for every person proposed).
- Party Agents.
- District Agents.
- Candidates’ Agents (up to 11th May, 2026).
Registered Political Parties are also obliged to submit their lists and forms by the indicated date.
9. The Electoral Commission may also receive lists of persons containing names and identity card numbers to serve as: Counting, Transport and Delivery Agents by 9th May, 2026.
10. A candidate may withdraw his nomination between Thursday 7th and Tuesday 12th May, 2026 (same hours as per para. 2). Should an independent candidate withdraw his nomination, he shall not be entitled to nominate persons as per paras 8 and 9. Objections to nominations of candidates may be presented to the Electoral Commission between Thursday 7th and Tuesday 12th May, 2026.
11. Every candidate must check that his name has been included in the list of candidates published in the Government Gazette. According to Law, no persons whose name is not included in this list may be elected as a Maltese Member of Parliament.
12. The candidate or the party with which he is contesting may supply the artwork of their badge or logo by noon of Monday, 11th May, 2026. The badge or logo, to be approved by the Electoral Commission, shall be printed beside the name of the candidate on the ballot paper. The badge or logo must be legible and clear so as to be reduced to size 17mm x 19mm to fit on the ballot paper. Such badges or logos may be sent by email to: [email protected]
13. The Electoral Commission shall receive photographs of candidates to be displayed on posters within each polling room. This image must be received in digital format (eg. PDF), unmounted and may be in colour on a white background. Candidates running under the banner of a registered political party which has been assigned a colour by the Electoral Commission, should have the same colour as background. At the bottom of the photo there should be in black ink the name and surname of the candidate and, where applicable, his or his party’s badge or logo. Such photos need to be submitted to the Electoral Commission by email through [email protected] by Monday, 11th May, 2026.
14. Candidates must also supply the Electoral Commission with their portrait photo, also in digital format (eg. JPEG) to be reproduced beside their name on the ballot paper. This needs to be in black on a white background with these specifications : 35mm x 45mm, 150 dpi grey scale, 206 px wide and 265 px high. This must be received by the Electoral Commission by 11th May, 2026, otherwise the Electoral Commission is legally bound to peruse the candidate’s photo on his identity card.
15. The candidate and his nominated agent shall be provided with an identification tag by the Electoral Commission. Such tags must be visibly worn during their relative election processes.
16. Candidates may witness the sealing of ballot boxes prior to the start of the poll, at the end of the poll, at the start of the counting process and during other processes as established by the Electoral Commission.
17. Elected candidates must submit to the Electoral Commission within ten days from when they have been declared elected (and NOT from when the official result has been published in the Government Gazette), a sworn return of expenses/revenue relevant to their electoral campaign. A candidate cannot spend more than twenty thousand euro (€20,000) for each district he is contesting in his election campaign. The Electoral Commission shall send this form (GE 50) by registered post to all candidates at the address under which the candidates are registered. However, in case that the form is not received (for any reason), the responsibility of submitting the report lies fully on the candidate. Candidates who fail to submit such a sworn report, or submit it late would be breaching the law.
