By Marissa Nazeera
GOMBAK, 18 November 2022: As made known to the public, the 15th General Election will be held on 19th November 2022. This is in continuation of the dissolution of the Parliament under the premiereship of Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri in October 2022.
In line with Article 40(2)(b) and Article 55(2) of the Federal Constitution, the Yang di-Pertua Agong had approved Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri’s request to dissolve Parliament as the then Prime Minister of Malaysia.
How can I vote?
If you are a first-time voter, rest assured. With the amendment made to the UNDI 18 Bill, now voters 18 years and above are automatically registered. Thus, there is no need for them to manually register at SPR pop-up booths in Mydin malls or even queue for two or three hours.
Nonetheless, only Malaysians aged 18 and above will be automatically registered provided that they have no criminal records that might affect their voting rights.
Where to check my voting eligibility?
In order to check ones eligibility, download MySPR Semak apps or visit Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya Malaysia or Election Commission of Malaysia’s (SPR or EC) official website at mysprsemak.spr.gov.my/
Here, you should take some time to check your voting status and personal information. The same MySPR Semak apps and SPR official website can be used to check the candidates at your respective constituency.
That being said, it is also equally important to note that only three States dissolved their Dewan Undangan Negeri or DUN, namely, Perak, Pahang and Perlis.
With this happening, the remaining states that have not dissolved their DUN will have their people vote for only the Parliamentary seats while Perak, Pahang and Perlis voters will vote for their DUN and Parliament.
Hence, some of your friends who will vote in these States will receive two ballot papers for them to vote candidates that represent their DUN and Parliament.
What to do on voting day?
a. Proper time management
As cliche as it is, the very first thing one should do on the voting day is to mentally prepare for queues at voting stations. The queue might be quite overwhelming since we will be having an increased number of voters with the automatic registration of young voters.
Thus, it is advisable for everyone to follow the preferred voting time to avoid congestions.
b. Wear proper outfit
Next, since Malaysia’s weather can be unexpected, it is also highly recommended for everyone to wear attire that is comfortable and appropriate. On the voting day, everyone is no longer non-partisan since they will have already made up their mind to vote for a particular party.
That being said, it is best to avoid outfits with any political partys logo because if you are found wearing one, you will be subject to section 26(1)(g) of the Election Offences Act. To be safe, it is better for everyone to wear plain attire with no patterns or prints.
c. Items to bring
Please bear in mind that you should only bring your original MyKad. This will be examined by SPR Officers to ensure your voting eligibility and confirm your citizenship.
Please cooperate well with SPR Officers since they need to put in a lot of efforts to prevent the existence of ˜ghost voters on the day of the election. Hence, you should never leave your belongings, especially your wallets to anyone while in the voting queue.
Also, although you are allowed to bring your smartphones, remember to not record any videos or take any pictures during the voting session. Remember, your vote shall remain a secret.
d.COVID-19 Precautions
Do not forget to self-test for COVID-19 before going to your respective voting session if you are experiencing any symptoms. Though, it is good to exercise your duty as a responsible Malaysian, but it is equally important to keep everyone else safe too. Please keep on wearing your mask especially while queuing and sanitize yourself from time to time.
What to do while voting?
a. Check your ballot paper upon receipt
Every piece of ballot paper has its own serial number and a certified SPR stamp. Therefore, before you vote, please double check the quality and condition of your ballot paper. Make sure that it is in one-piece (not torn), properly printed (the writings are visible), and stamped.
However, in the event the requirements are not satisfied, please inform an officer on duty at the election to assist you further.
Also, as stated earlier, only voters from Perak, Pahang, and Perlis will receive two paper ballots for their DUN and Parliament. The voters from other States will only receive one ballot paper and it is exclusively for Parliament.
b. What to write on the ballot paper
If you are not sure which party or candidate to vote for, still, do not make an ˜X mark in all columns. Please make your decision and mark ‘X’ in only one column.
And to add on, the mark you are supposed to make is an ˜X and not ˜/, ˜O. and your failure to abide by the rules will indicate your vote as ˜undi rosak which will not be counted as a legitimate vote. In simple terms, it will be rejected.
c. Recheck your ballot paper before submitting
Before submitting your ballot paper, please double check that there is no inked-fingerprint residue stamped on the ballot paper. Make sure that your ballot is folded properly and placed in the ballot box located in your voting booth.
Do not take it out of the voting booth nor take a picture or even ˜selfie with your ballot paper.
Voting Station Procedures
Hope for new voters and for a better Malaysia
Since we are given the right to vote, let us all utilize the right to the fullest. Let us be a responsible Malaysian that chooses our representatives properly. Vote for the representative only if they are good. But if in his or her past tenure they were not good representatives or leaders, then it is your opportunity to vote them out.
Our simple act of going out to vote plays a huge role in everyone’s life. This is because we choose the one who represents us, who will make decisions for us.
Malaysia is our only country, so let us together make this home a safe heaven. Stand tall together and only allow the right candidates to represent us in Parliament.***