Open postal voting to students, workers outside home states, EC urged

The Election Commission (EC) should consider opening postal votes to those who study or work outside their home state, a youth leader has suggested.

Muhammad Shakir Ameer, who is a member of Shah Alam DAP Youth, said travelling back and forth to vote is costly, especially for those who have to take a flight between the peninsula and Sabah or Sarawak.

“With the automatic voter registration now in force, the number of voters has also increased and this would most probably cause a logistical nightmare to manage voters during polling day.

“In case the general election is held during monsoon season, the election operation would face bigger challenges and can affect voters’ turnout.

“Besides Pos Malaysia, there are also many other logistics companies in Malaysia that are involved in e-trading and they are capable of helping the EC in managing postal votes,” he said in a statement.

Shah Alam DAP Youth member Muhammad Shakir Ameer

Shakir, who is a former National DAP Youth vice-chief, stressed that the commission should make it easier for voters to come out and cast their ballot in the upcoming 15th general election.

Currently, Category A postal voting (for those in the country) is only open to five groups, namely EC members, election workers, media personnel who are covering the election, and police and military personnel who cannot turn up to vote during the designated early voting day. - Mkini