The electoral campaign for local elections ended at midnight as the electorate today observes a so-called day of reflection before a third of the country goes to the polls tomorrow.

Elections are being held in 21 localities - the biggest being Zebbug and St Paul's Bay, from where nine candidates each have to be elected.

The other localities where an election is being held are Valletta, Mellieha, St Julians, Sta Venera and Zurrieq - seven councillors each, and Senglea, Balzan, Dingli, Fontana, Ghajnsielem, Ghasri, Iklin, Kirkop, Mqabba, Nadur, Pembroke, Qrendi, Ta' Xbiex and Xewkija - five councillors each.

Elections were also due at Zejtun and Marsa but are not being held because the number of candidates contesting matches the vacancies.

This followed the Nationalist Party's eleventh hour decision to pull out a number of candidates.

The 21 localities are being contested by 224 candidates representing the Nationalist Party, the Labour Party, Alternattiva Demokratika, Alpha, Kuxjenza Nadifa and independents.

There are a total of 77,045 registered voters.

Vote counting will be at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, in Valletta.