EC aims for 96pc turnout in early voting

KLUANG, July 7 — The Election Commission (EC) is targeting a 96 per cent turnout for early voting in the Johor state election today.

EC chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun said the target was based on the turnout achieved in previous elections.

“Based on our previous experience, early voting turnout can reach as high as 96 per cent, and we are maintaining that projection,” he told a press conference after observing the early voting process at Kem Mahkota here.

Commenting on today’s early voting process, Ramlan said 62 early voting centres were opened across the state at 8am.

“Of the total, 29 centres closed at noon, another five closed at 2pm, while the remaining 28 will close at 5pm,” he said.

According to Ramlan, the early voting involved 20,607 electors, comprising 8,544 personnel from the Malaysian Armed Forces and their spouses as well as 12,063 police personnel and their spouses.

Ramlan said the early ballot boxes would be kept at police stations before vote counting begins on Saturday.

“Early ballots will only be counted on polling day this Saturday from 5pm. We expect the full results to be known before midnight, and we hope they can be available as early as 10pm,” he said.

He urged the 2.7 million eligible ordinary voters to turn out in large numbers on Saturday to fulfil their civic responsibility.

“This is an opportunity for all of us to contribute to the nation through the democratic system that we uphold.”

For the latest updates on the 16th Johor state election, visit https://prn.bernama.com/johor/. — Bernama