Youth groups call for postal voting access to all before next elections

 

Thirteen youth-led organisations have called for postal voting and early voting access to be made available to all voters before holding the Sarawak state and any possible snap general elections.

In doing so the groups, led by Youth in Politics (Ypolitics), have called on the government to provide the Election Commission (EC) with a bigger budget to enable it to implement such a system.

"MPs should submit a notice of amendment to the speaker of the Dewan Rakyat during the 3rd parliamentary seating to have the entire government’s support to amend Regulation 3(1) of the Elections (Advance Voting) Regulations 2012 to allow all registered voters to be eligible as advance voters.

"This amendment would subsequently allow all Malaysian voters to vote-by-mail, not just essential workers," said the groups in a joint statement today.

"Understandably, such implementation will require a significant amount of resources to ensure such voting methods are transparent, efficient, over a short period of time.

"Therefore, a bigger allocation should be reallocated to the Election Commission in Budget 2021, which will be tabled this Friday," it added.

The groups said the importance of such a move could not be overstated as voting during a pandemic would result in many voters becoming disenfranchised, with Malaysians made to choose between prioritising their health or exercising their democratic rights.

Ypolitics described itself as a multi-partisan and independent youth-led movement that aims to generate a more politically aware Malaysian youth.

Aside from Ypolitics, the groups signing the statement included Youths.My, The Loud Asians, The Noeo Project, Misi: Solidariti, The Juvenile Gazette, Myer Movement, Sorry Gais But, Borneo Speaks, Komuhakan, Arus Anak Muda, Girls for Girls and Klima Action Malaysia.

They warned that a lower voter turnout rate would not achieve the goal of ending the political instability that the nation is currently facing.

"Other countries have demonstrated that postal voting and early voting not only can help to generate higher voter turnout, but ensure it is safe and not discriminate against any types of voters.

"For instance, more than 91 million or about 43 percent of American voters have cast their ballots either via postal voting or early voting last Sunday for their upcoming election, which will be held today," said the groups.

They also called for any elections to be held only after the automatic voter registration system and the lowering of the voting age to 18 (Undi18) are implemented, estimated to be in effect by July 2021.

"Youth should be allowed to voice out and decide who should lead the country, as they comprise more than 40 percent of the country’s population," said the groups, adding that the disenfranchisement of youth was to be avoided.

"Our electoral system must be robust enough in facing future pandemics and disasters. We must not return to the status quo but rebuild a better electoral system.

"We must ensure that our democracy is accessible to everyone and the erosion of our democratic practices should not be tolerated at any means," said the groups.

The call for postal votes to be permitted has increased in the wake of a steep increase in Covid-19 cases after the Sabah state election in late September. - Mkini