EC chief: Constitution needs further amending for automatic voter registration

The government needs to seek another amendment to the Federal Constitution to implement automatic voter registration (AVR), Election Commission chief Azhar Azizan Harun said today.

When met at the Parliament lobby, Azhar said the government needs to amend Article 119(4) of the Constitution.

He also noted that the Elections (Registration of Electors) Regulations 2002 would have to be amended as well.

Amendments to the regulations must be tabled in Parliament, but do not require the approval of the House.

Today, the Youth and Sports Ministry will table an amendment to Article 119(1) for first reading in the Dewan Rakyat to lower the voting age from 21 to 18.

For the relevant constitutional bill to be passed, a two-thirds majority of the Dewan Rakyat is required.

Earlier, BN, PAS and GPS had indicated that they would support the government's effort to lower the voting age, on the condition that this is done via automatic voter registration.

[More to follow] - Mkini