EC: There’ll be a big turnout
It is due to a friendly, calm and peaceful campaign period, says secretary.
YAN: More than 90% of the 27,222 registered voters in Sungai Limau are expected to cast their votes today, says the Election Commission (EC) secretary Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh.
The number of voters in the state seat in the 13th general election was 89%. He said the high expectation was due to the positive atmosphere during the campaigning period.
“The campaign period was friendly, calm and peaceful. The increase in voter percentage is due to the spirit of comradeship and family ties,” he said after checking ballot boxes and voting equipment at Dewan Dato’ Madi here yesterday.
Abdul Ghani said of the 27,222 voters, three were postal votes involving a student in Egypt and two individuals working in Permatang Pauh and Sabah.
He said 499 EC personnel, 116 policemen and 58 polling chiefs will be on duty today, involving 58 polling streams and 17 polling centres.
“These chiefs will take voting equipment back to their locations, while indelible ink and ballot papers will be left at the hall until 6am today. The police will monitor the equipment and halls to prevent intrusion from any quarters.”
He also advised voters to go out in stages from 8am to 5pm and to bring along their identification card.
He said that the EC expected results for the by-election to be out at the latest by 10pm tonight, and ballots will be tallied at Dewan Lukman Al-Hakim, SMK Agama Yan.
Meanwhile, the weather is expected to be fair in the morning.
However, thunderstorms were expected in the afternoon, a Meteorological Department spokesman said.
Voters in Sungai Limau will vote for their new state assemblyman, either Barisan Nasional candidate Dr Ahmad Sohaimi Lazim or PAS candidate Mohd Azam Abdul Samat.