UPDATED 1245 CEST: The sorting of ballots according to the number 1 preference in European Parliament Elections has finally started at the Naxxar counting hall, a little later than the 1200 CEST noon target of the Electoral Commission.

All the ballot boxes were processed into packets of 50 votes each, face down, during the night, with a slight delay caused by European Parliament election votes and Local Council election votes ending in the wrong boxes. Both elections were held on Saturday 6th June.

The sorting of voting according to the number 1 preference is closely monitored by political party agents and candidates. It is at this time that the parties start to take samples of the voting patterns to reach their own conclusions on the performance of parties and candidates. The first indications on voting patterns are expected in the afternoon, long before the official first count is released by the Electoral Commission when all the number 1 preferences would have been counted. This is expected late on Sunday evening.

Local Council votes will be counted next week-end.

The final turnout of voters on Saturday stood at 78.8% for the EP elections. This was a decrease of 3.6% compared to the 2004 EP elections.

MaltaMedia is providing special election coverage starting Saturday, with particular emphasis on Sunday until the official result for the European Parliament Elections is announced. It has already launched a special election blogosphere and will provide an SMS breaking news service on Vodafone number 5090 2060. Video coverage is also available in collaboration with Favourite Channel. Click here to watch videos.

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