Pelangai polls: Encouraging turnout among young voters, says EC

 

PELANGAI BY-ELECTION | The Election Commission (EC) expects the voter turnout for the Pelangai by-election to reach at least 70 percent.

This is based on this morning’s voting trend, said EC chairperson Abdul Ghani Salleh, who observed that many voters, especially from the younger age groups, thronging several polling centres.

“On voter turnout, I saw an encouraging trend at polling streams for the younger age groups.

“From our observation, many young voters started coming in droves since early morning and there were long queues,” he told reporters at SMK Felda Chemomoi earlier today.

Ghani (above) was there with a group of EC officials to observe today’s polling process.

According to him, the trend in Pelangai was slightly different than other previous elections where younger voters would turn up later during the day to cast their ballot.

This, he said, showed the high spirit among Pelangai youths to take part in the democratic process.

“As of 10am, voter turnout was around 21 percent.

“And based on this trend, insha-Allah, we expect to reach 70 percent overall turnout by the end of this polling day,” he added.

The Pelangai by-election is seeing a three-cornered fight between BN’s Amizar Abu Adam, Perikatan Nasional’s Kasim Samat, and independent candidate Haslihelmy DM Zulhasli.

The state constituency in Bentong, Pahang has a total of 16,383 ordinary voters who have until 6pm to cast their ballot today. - Mkini