EC: Video cameras won’t compromise secrecy
The Election Commission (EC) has given an assurance that the video cameras to be installed in all 68 streams on polling day will not interfere with the secrecy of ballots.
EC chairman Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun also stressed that the recorded clips were only meant for the commission’s use and would not be distributed.
“The video cameras will be angled in a way that the voters’ secrecy is not compromised at all times.
“The proceedings are recorded only for EC’s use and will not be distributed to simply anyone ... if there are claims of misconduct or ghost voters/overlapping voters, then we can refer to these video recordings.
“I hope the Umno side will understand this. We will not do anything against the law or anything bad,” he told reporters after checking on the election day preparation process at Dewan Datuk Sri Panglima Mohd Dun Banir here yesterday.
This centre will be used for vote counting.
Azhar was responding to Sabah Umno Youth’s call for the EC to cancel plans to install video cameras at the polling streams, which the party deemed a bid to create fear among voters and force them to vote for the ruling government since they are being monitored.
Some 29,618 out of the 29,664 voters in the Kimanis parliamentary constituency are eligible to cast their votes today in 68 voting streams in 19 polling centres.
Azhar said there would be 650 election staff members on duty.
Voting starts from 7.30am and ends at 5pm. “The by-election results are expected by 10pm. We will air unofficial results from time to time after the voting period ends,” he said.
On election offences recorded during the by-election campaigning so far, Azhar said 24 police reports were lodged by related parties and four election offences were recorded by the PP-KPR (Pasukan Penguatkuasa Kempen Pilihanraya).
“These four are common offences involving banners and election materials. In general, there were no serious offences,” he said.
Azhar said the two earlier police reports regarding the breach of election rules during the Christmas celebration and the Chief Minister giving out cash aid at another location had already been dealt with and clarified.
He also said there were many improvements made by the EC over the 10 by-elections that had been held, including adding more voting streams.
“The ballpoint pen size used is larger and there are now live feeds (via the EC Facebook page) for transparency purposes in six phases of the election, starting from nomination day until the results are announced.
“For transparency, the key for the lock-up where early votes are placed will be put inside a sealed envelope signed by election agents, so there should not be any accusations that someone put new ballots in,” he added.
“We will introduce new initiatives from time to time to improve election transparency and to ensure a better voting experience.”
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