838 personnel deployed to ensure smooth Chini polls tomorrow

CHINI POLLS | A total of 838 personnel will be on duty during the Chini state by-election tomorrow to ensure the polling process runs smoothly in accordance with the new normal.

Election Commission (EC) deputy chairperson Azmi Sharom said preparations have been made to ensure voting goes well, with a few final checks carried out today.

He said ballot boxes have been thoroughly inspected for the voting process which involves 65 lanes at 13 polling centres.

“When they checked the ballot boxes, the heads of polling centres and clerks also checked all the items provided by the EC, including stationery, election ink and relevant forms.

“This includes hand sanitisers, masks, brush to apply ink on the fingers, and rubber gloves for the 20,816 ordinary voters who will be voting tomorrow,” he said after looking at the final preparations by EC staff at the Vote Counting Centre for the Chini by-election at the National Youth Skills Training Institute (IKBN) in Pekan.

In total, there are 66 lanes in 14 polling centres for the by-election including for early voting on June 30 which involved 18 police personnel.

Azmi (above) reminded voters to cast their votes early "during the times encouraged" as stated on the EC voter's card to avoid crowding.

The information on the card is meant to ensure social distancing so people can exercise their right to vote.

“We still hope that 70 percent of voters here will cast their votes tomorrow. We will wait and see what happens,” he said while advising voters to check their polling centres and lanes so there will be no confusion. 

Azmi urged voters to bring their own masks to the polling centres as the country was still not free of the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, the EC will provide masks for those without, he said, adding that voters must comply with the standard operating procedure.

- Bernama