Make your voice heard on election day

ZULITA MUSTAFA

MANY people vote because they are for or against an issue or candidate. For others, voting is about ensuring high voter turnout in a community, which results in greater access to elected officials and more of a say in decisions affecting it.

Voting is the cornerstone of a democracy but, sadly, far too few people vote, especially youths.

They have the power to make a difference and an important way to achieve this is to make their voices heard at the polls on election day.

Election Commission (EC) chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Hashim Abdullah, 63, said about 3.8 million eligible Malaysians have yet to register to vote, and the majority are youths.

“The trend is worrying as the figure is big. If they do not register, they will not be able to vote in the upcoming elections,” he said.

Of the total 18 million people eligible to vote across the country, only 14.2 million had registered as voters by the end of last year.

Mohd Hashim added that many students are new to voting and are not aware of the process.

“Awareness is low among university students as only 2,000 students aged 21 and above have registered.

“They often didn’t know how or where to register, or missed the deadline. Students, new to voting and their college community, often face practical hurdles such as awareness of the registration process.

“To ensure more students register, the EC is cooperating with the Economic Planning Unit to go to the ground to set up counters at universities and suburban areas where they can register.

“After that we will go to schools to ensure teachers also register. If we do not take the initiative, the number of unregistered may rise again.”

Mohd Hashim was speaking to undergraduates

Students, new to voting and their college community, often face practical hurdles such as awareness of the registration process.”