Maria: EC should try postal, early voting throughout by-election campaign

 

The Election Commission (EC) must expand early voting and postal voting systems if it is to implement new election-related standard operating procedures (SOPs) that consider Health Ministry's recommendations, said Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah.

In a joint statement with Mengkibol state assemblyperson Chew Chong Sin, Maria reacted to EC chairperson Abdul Ghani Salleh who said that the EC will take into account the recommendations by the Health Ministry that there be no crossing of state or district borders, no public gatherings during campaigning and no door-to-door visits.

"If not implemented in conjunction with the early voting system and expanding postal votes, the recommendations are not suitable and, in fact, violate human rights.

"Under the Constitution, every voter has the right to vote and according to the Elections Act, the EC has the power to allow anyone to become a postal voter.

"As the highest electoral management institution, the EC should strive to guarantee the voting rights of every voter," Maria and Chew said.

Maria Chin Abdullah

The duo recommended that the Batu Sapi by-election be used as an experiment within a predetermined 11-day campaign period.

"With the early voting system, voters outside the district and even abroad can vote at a specially designated local polling station, for example in Kuala Lumpur.

"With this, the fundamental right of a voter to vote will be guaranteed," they added. 

The Batu Sapi parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of its MP Liew Vui Keong of Warisan on Oct 2.

The EC has set Dec 5 for polling for the by-election, with the nomination on Nov 23 and early voting on Dec 1.

A number of parties have said they will step aside to let a Warisan candidate win uncontested, but Bersatu has yet to announce its decision on the matter.

Maria and Chew called for the campaign period to be extended to the longest time length allowed under the Elections Act, so that ballot papers can be printed and distributed to all special polling stations throughout Malaysia.

Chew Chong Sin

This longer period will allow voters to pick up their ballot papers and vote at the special polling station throughout the campaign, they suggested.

"According to the Elections Act, elections must be held within 60 days after the date of dissolution. 

"Therefore, in the next election, the campaign period should be extended by the EC for at least 30 days so that the early voting system and postal voting can be carried out smoothly and Covid-19 prevention protocols can be complied with."

In addition, if house-to-house visits are not allowed during campaigning, they recommended that the EC work with the mainstream government and private media channels, especially television and radio ahead of the election, to ensure that all candidates are given the opportunity to broadcast their political views and philosophies.

"This can be done because Article 115 of the Federal Constitution empowers the EC to seek the help of government agencies," the pair added.

They also suggested that since there are more than one million Malaysians living abroad, the campaign period should be extended to the longest possible time to ensure voters have enough time to receive and send ballot papers back to Malaysia.

Maria is a former Bersih 2.0 chairperson while Chew established Bersih Shanghai in 2012 and played an important role in the movement among Malaysians abroad. - Mkini