EC mulls proxy voting in election law changes

Abdul Aziz said his commission would monitor the proxy system for abuse. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 — The Election Commission (EC) is studying the possibility of implementing a proxy voting system that would empower individuals to cast ballots on behalf of other registered voters.

EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof told The Malaysian Insider the proposal would be among some 30 amendments to election laws in the country that the commission hoped to table in the coming Parliament sitting in March.

The proposed amendments, he added, would likely be presented to the Cabinet next month and, once approved, should be implemented in time for the 13th general election.

It is widely speculated that the Najib administration will call for polls by yearend.

“Our target is the 13th general election... insya-Allah (God willing), our target is that these amendments be passed this year, early this year, and it will be brought to Parliament and Cabinet.

“Hopefully, we can push it to the March parliamentary sitting, failing which, the one in June,” he said during a recent interview.

Abdul Aziz added that the amendments would not come into effect in time for the Sarawak state elections, which must be called by July this year.

He explained that the proxy voting system was aimed at enabling those who were unable to be present on polling days to have their votes cast by approved proxies.

The system, he added, was different from postal voting.

Abdul Aziz admitted, however, that the system would not be easy to implement but gave his assurance that, if approved, it would be monitored tightly to prevent abuse.

“There are ways... there are ways. Other countries have also implemented such systems,” he said.

For example, according to information obtained from the Toronto election website, voters who are unable to be present on voting days can apply for the privilege of having proxy voters cast ballots on their behalf.

In Toronto, Canada, the proxy voting system allows voters to surrender their votes to others living in the same constituency.

Here, a proxy voter is prohibited from voting on behalf of more than two registered voters, and an application for the privilege must be made a day before polling.

The last time the EC proposed comprehensive amendments to election laws in Malaysia was in 2002.

Abdul Aziz said that although this round of amendments involved about 30 issues, these would not be as comprehensive as the previous exercise.

He refused to divulge more details on the proposed amendments, pointing out that they were still being studied.

“I cannot reveal what we plan on amending or give examples. Like what I said before, if the game (election) has not begun, the referee cannot blow the whistle.

“There are many amendments, involving several acts and regulations... but I apologise, I cannot reveal them yet,” he said.

Abdul Aziz added, however, that the amendments were aimed at ensuring the election process was more smooth and transparent.

It is likely that the latest round of amendments could involve an extension to nomination days or the postal voting system.

It is also believed that the EC is presently weighing changes to the present voter registration system and the transfer of voting addresses.

Abdul Aziz said the current amendments would also look at altering the use of terms in election laws that were deemed inappropriate, adding that it would take into account current advances in information communications and technology.

“For example, we are studying the suitability of the word ‘membuang undi’ (cast votes)... ‘membuang undi’ is inappropriate. These are words found in our legislation and they need to be studied and replaced with more appropriate words,” he said.

To run an election, the EC presently refers to the Federal Constitution, state Constitutions, Elections Act 1958, Elections Offences Act 1954, Elections (Conduct of Elections) Regulations 1981 and Elections (Postal Voting) Regulations 2003. - Malaysian Insider