On 16 April, there will be voters waiting in long lines, only to be disappointed to find that their names are not on the electoral rolls. It is also possible that we will see election workers struggling with their ballot boxes or their own electoral lists.
If you’re worried that your vote will not be counted, the following recommendations, which have been compiled based on voting irregularities in other countries worldwide, should protect your own vote—and the fairness of the system.
BEFORE ELECTION DAY
1. Check your registration. Even if you think you're registered, you may not be. Check online.
2. Mail with care. If you’re voting by mail, check carefully where you need to sign, how to seal the envelope, and how to mark the ballot. Check the correct postage.
3. Find out who’s in charge. Make a phone list of your election officials—it may save valuable time on Election Day if you need to get registration verification or other information.
ON ELECTION DAY
4. Vote early. If you encounter problems, you'll have time to sort them out and may be able to help others.
5. Take your identity card (MyKad).
6. Bring your cell phone, if you have one. If you have problems, or see problems, you can call a hotline immediately or phone your local MP.
7. If there are other problems, speak to a polling attendant.
8. Document and report. If you encounter difficulties, or see others experiencing difficulties (excessive lines, voter harassment, people offering to buy you off, etc.), make a detailed record.
Get all the facts you can—location, names, specific problem.
Contact Bersih: Tel: +603 7980 6571, Fax: +603 7980 2697, Email: info@bersih.org
AFTER ELECTION DAY
9. Call your candidate. If there are questions about an election result, urge your candidate not to concede early; encourage that person to follow through with all available challenges and recounts. Ask how you can help.
10. Call your election officials. Let your county and state election officials know that you have concerns about the election and will be monitoring their response. Ask them not to certify the election before all challenges and recounts are finished.
INTO THE FUTURE
11. Work for fair, transparent elections. Voice your questions about vote suppression and election problems promptly. Keep the issue in front of your election officials.
If we want clean, trustworthy elections in the future, we have to start working on it now.
- Malaysia Chronicle
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