Longer campaign period for overseas voters - Global Bersih urges EC on Sabah polls

Electoral reform group Global Bersih has urged the Election Commission (EC) to ensure there would be a workable voting system and sufficient campaign period for overseas voters for the upcoming Sabah snap election.

“In particular, Global Bersih would like to stress the importance of a campaign period that is long enough to allow overseas voters to receive and return their ballots and recommends a period of at least 21 to 24 days.

“This is to avoid the problems faced during the 14th general election from repeating themselves.

“These led to the disenfranchisement of the overseas voters as the overtly short campaign period did not give voters enough time to receive the ballot papers and return them to the respective polling station, as well as not taking into account the public holidays resulting in even shorter postage time allowance,” said Global Bersih in a statement today.

The group said the EC should also review the overseas voting system as a whole in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

There are limitations that arise from the pandemic that could have an impact on overseas voters including severely impeded international and domestic postal services, restricted trans-border mobility and health risks, it explained.

Other important factors include financial and time burden for voters, the availability of accurate information and ballot security and traceability, timeliness and effective ballot distribution to respective ballot stations, it said, as outlined in their overseas voters reform proposal.

“The EC has an important responsibility to ensure that all Malaysians, both abroad and in the country, can exercise their constitutional right to vote.

“Therefore, the campaigning period and voting process determined and carried out by the EC must inspire voter confidence and facilitate the voting process.

“We therefore strongly urge the EC to put into place a workable, secure and transparent system for all overseas voters, including a campaign of at least 21 to 24 days,” it said.

Previously, Global Bersih had urged the EC to extend postal voting to more Sabahans in the coming state elections in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has made travelling back to Sabah to cast ballots a health risk and a significant financial burden. - Mkini