EC, NRD set up special task force over 18-year voting age

The Election Commission (EC) and National Registration Department (NRD) have set up a special task force on the implementation of the 18-year-old voting age and automatic voter registration.

The task force will co-ordinate Malaysian citizens’ information and other related matters, EC chairperson Azhar Azizan Harun said.

“Besides that, one of the cooperation programmes between both agencies that has been planned is to organise a major campaign to encourage citizens to update their latest residential address in the NRD,” he added.

Azhar said that although the implementation of the 18-year-old voting age and automatic voter registration would be effective on July 1, 2021, the EC would try to implement these as soon as possible.

During the transition period, the EC also has proposed to appoint an Election Assistant Registrar (PPP) from among political parties,” Azhar said in a statement released in Putrajaya yesterday.

"Towards this end, political parties can submit appointment proposals to the EC headquarters and any state EC election offices nationwide from now,” he said.

Azhar said the EC has also suggested an amendment to the state constitutions to enable an 18-year-old candidate to represent the state assembly, to be made during the sitting in November or by March 2020.

The selection of 18-year-old candidates as representatives at the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives) had come into force on Sept 11 this year.

“All parties must take cognisance concerning this amendment, which is in force at the Dewan Rakyat level, and hope that it can be implemented quickly at the State Assembly level,” he said.

Azhar said all these issues have already been explained to 20 representatives from political parties in a bipartisan engagement session on the implementation on the 18-year-old voting age and automatic voter registration on Oct 3.

In the statement, Azhar said that EC had also informed them on the implementation of voter education programmes to provide awareness and understanding of the democratic process and elections in the country, especially among the youths and students.

He said EC has developed special modules based on the target groups, namely the voter education module for school leavers and civics education module for secondary school students.

“If there is any political party that wants to know more about the modules, we are ready to divulge its content in detail,” Azhar said, adding that the EC would continue to hold engagement sessions with political parties and various quarters.

These would be held from time to time to inform them about the latest status on the implementation of the 18-year-old voting age and automatic voter registration.

- Bernama