EC: Close to 60pc have voted

A big crowd had started queuing to enter the SMK Bukit Bandaraya polling centre in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur to cast their vote even before it opened at 8am on May 5, 2013. — Picture by Choo Choy MayPUTRAJAYA, May 5 — The Election Commission (EC) announced that a total of 7,916,703 voters or 59.67 per cent had cast their ballots as at noon today.

Not counting early and postal voters, 7,600,499 or 58.99 per cent of registered voters have gone to the polls today.

Voters in Kelantan lead the numbers, with 560,274 or 61.82 per cent already having voted.

The Federal Territory of Labuan had the lowest voter turnout so far, at 10,162 voters or just 44.2 per cent.

The breakdown of voter turnout in each state is as follows: Perlis (78,115; 58.45 per cent), Kedah (630,224; 61.53 per cent), Terengganu (381,488; 60.7 per cent), Penang (489,516; 58.64 per cent), Perak (788,399; 57.58 per cent), Pahang (417,906; 58.35 per cent).

Selangor (1,188,063; 58.65 per cent), Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur (403,728; 53.74 per cent), Federal Territory of Putrajaya (8,154; 54.18 per cent), Negri Sembilan (307,271; 57.52 per cent), Malacca (232,339; 54.73 per cent) and Johor (944891; 59.80 per cent).

In east Malaysia, 55,934 or 57.19 per cent of voters had voted in Sabah, while in Sarawak 618,661 voters or 58.22 per cent had already done so.

The Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur had the highest number of early voters at 30,933, while Selangor had the most number of absentee and postal voters at 755.

A total of 12,885,434 voters are expected to cast their ballots at 8,245 polling centres and 25,337 polling channels today before voting ends at 5pm.