‘OPERATIONS, COURSES A FACTOR IN LOW TURNOUT’
63pc of early voters cast their ballots on Tuesday, compared with GE14’s 90pc
PARTICIPATING in operations and attending courses are among the factors that contributed to the percentage decrease in early-voter turnout for the Port Dickson parliamentary by-election, said returning officer Khairy Maamor.
“I noticed that there were fewer military personnel spouses this time, compared with during the general election. Maybe they are in their hometown and could not return to vote,” he said here yesterday.
Ninety per cent of early voters cast their ballots during the 14th General Election (GE14) on May 9, compared with Thursday’s 63 per cent, a decline of 27 per cent.
A total of 4,564 out of 7,191 early voters cast their ballots on Thursday.
Three polling stations — the Port Dickson district police headquarters, the Army Basic Training Centre hangar and the PD Segenting Camp multipurpose hall — were opened since 8am. The early-voting process was witnessed by the byelection candidates’ agents and observers comprising representatives of non-governmental organisations appointed by the Election Commission (EC).
After the polling stations closed, the ballot boxes were sealed and kept at the Port Dickson district police headquarters lock-up and would be opened for counting at the Port Dickson Municipal Council Hall on Saturday. Khairy, who is Port Dickson district officer, said 13 polling streams were available at the polling stations, with 10 of them opened from 8am to 5.30pm.
The remaining three polling streams at the police headquarters, namely Camps A, B and C, were closed at noon due to the small number of voters there, he said.
Khairy expected voter turnout on Saturday to reach the target of 70 per cent.
“If we can get 60 per cent, that would be good enough,” he said.
The Port Dickson parliamentary by-election is the fourth byelection after the May 9 general election.
The previous three were state by-elections for the Sungai Kandis, Seri Setia and Balakong seats, all in Selangor.
The Port Dickson by-election is a seven-cornered contest between PKR president-elect Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of Pakatan Harapan, Lieutenant-Colonel (Rtd) Mohd Nazari Mokhtar of Pas and five independent candidates — former Negri Sembilan menteri besar Tan Sri Isa Samad, Anwar’s former personal aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, social media personality Stevie Chan Keng Leong, management consultant Kan Chee Yuen and former private university lecturer Lau Seck Yan.
The Port Dickson seat was vacated by Datuk Danyal Balagopal Abdullah of PKR to enable Anwar to contest and become a member of parliament.
Polling day is on Oct 13.