Those registering by June 30 can vote in post-August GE

About three million unregistered eligible voters can cast their vote in the next general election, in the event it is held after August, only if they register by June 30.

Election Commission (EC) chairperson Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said June was the most appropriate time for them to register, before the electoral roll was gazetted in August.

“June is the last month of the second quarter of the year, after which (in July) the names in the electoral roll will be displayed for two weeks. If there is no objection, it will be gazetted,” he told Bernama in Putrajaya.

According to Abdul Aziz, there are 12.9 million registered voters, as of March, comprising Malays (6,782,990), Chinese (3,871,277), Indians (938,946), Sabah bumiputera (618,277), Sarawak bumiputera (519,563), Orang Asli (69,510) and others (11,2027).

He said June was also important for those who had already registered, to check their status in the electoral roll.

“It will enable them to know whether there is a change in their polling locality or centre, error or inaccurate information, and thus, request for a correction. (Nevertheless) If the correction is made after June, it would be too late,” he noted.

Abdul Aziz said the EC began a month-long campaign since June 1, to encourage voters to check their status. However, only 138,216 had done so, as of June 11.

Those wishing to do so can contact the EC’s call centre at its headquarters in Putrajaya at 03-88856565, or telephone any of the commission’s state offices between 8am and 5pm, from Monday to Sunday, in June.

They can also resort to the EC website, www.spr.gov.my, or short message service (SMS) by typing SPRSEMAKNO.KAD PENGENALAN and send to 15888.

- Bernama