What Malaysian Voters Must Know for Malaysia GE13 Polling Day 5th May 2013

With the GE13 Polling date announced on Wednesday 10th April, I guess most Malaysians were excited and relieved that the date is finally set. As we prepare for the day and decide who we want to vote for, we need to ensure our names are in the electoral roll.

Malaysian citizen who has reached 21 years old is eligible to vote and should register as a voter.

Register As A Voter:

1. Through the Post Offices

2. SPR (Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya) main office

• Ibu Pejabat SPR Malaysia
  Tingkat Bawah, Blok C7, Kompleks C
  Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan
  62690 Putrajaya
  Tel: +603-88856686

3. SPR State Offices

4. Representative of Political Parties (new registration only). It will take about three months to six months to be gazetted.

Recently, overseas Malaysians may register as postal voters. According to Election Commission of Malaysia, Suruhan Pilihan Raya (SPR), Malaysians staying abroad can apply to be postal voters as long as they are already registered voters and had been in Malaysia for not less than 30 days in the last five years before dissolution of Parliament.

However, when this came into affect, the EC announced it a bit late. As a result, only 6,298 out of 700,000 overseas Malaysians have registered, which is rather disappointing.

To register for future elections as an overseas postal voter, use Form1B from SPR website:

1. Download Form 1B.

2. Complete the form and return to SPR by fax, post or email.

Note:

• You must be a registered voter. If you are not and you are overseas, please proceed to the Malaysian mission overseas (including embassies, consulates-general, high commissions, the Malaysian Friendship and Trade Centre in Taipei and the Malaysian Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva) to register as a voter.
• If you are registered as a postal vote, you will be unable to vote in person in Malaysia.

Check Your Voting Information:

1. Log into http://daftarj.spr.gov.my

2. Type your new IC Number and click "SEMAK".

3. You may print a copy of the check for safekeeping and to bring with you on polling day as proof of your polling centre.

4. Below find a sample of check result:

On Polling Day 5th May 2013 (What all Voters MUST know)

1. Located within 50 metres zone, there will be Barung Agent to verify voters are in the correct polling centre and direct them to the correct Polling Stream according to Electoral Roll.

2. Electoral Roll Checking Clerk will give voters their nombor bilangan and the Tempat Mengundi / Saluran (Polling Stream, usually its the classroom if polling is in schools).

3. Voter enters Polling Stream & goes to SPR (EC) Clerk 1, who will check Voter's hands (to ensure no indelible ink), verifies IC, reads out Voter's No. Bilangan, IC No. & name from MyKad (not Electoral Roll).

4. SPR Clerk 2 marks indelible ink on Voter's left index finger. The indelible ink takes up to 30 seconds to dry under UV light. As the ink will be applied in the room (where UV light is limited), it may take longer than 30 seconds to dry. The ink will be applied before you are handed the ballot paper. Please be careful that you do not mark or spoil your ballot with accidental smearing of the ink onto the ballot paper.
Note: Electoral stain is used as a good security feature to prevent double voting in elections. Ink is normally applied to the left hand index finger, especially to the cuticle where it is almost impossible to remove quickly. The finger should be left to dry for 15–30 seconds and exposed to light before being cleaned to ensure the mark remains visible for the desired length of time. (extract from wikipedia)

5. SPR Clerk 3 tears Ballot Paper from Ballot Book, then rubber stamp Ballot Paper, folds and hand it over to Voter.

Note: It is not necessary to request random ballot paper. (Voter may try but if rejected, DO NOT argue or else be labeled as trouble maker and will be disqualified from voting). The SPR can no longer trace the serial number to voter because in the past, the clerk writes the serial number taken next to voter's name. The only way SPR can trace voter is if it installs video camera in every polling stream, this is not feasible and possible. In By-election, yes, video cams are installed because by-election is very small and only a few polling stream or saluran or classrooms.

6. Voter goes to polling booth to cast vote. Mark an "X" in the empty box to the right  of the chosen  candidate's symbol.

7. Voter folds the ballot paper in half vertically and then folds in half again horizontally (to ensure secrecy of ballot) and drops casted vote into ballot box and leaves. Ensure that the correct slip is placed in the ballot box, i.e. Parliament Seat & State Seat (unless Wilayah where there is no State Seat).

General Note:

• SPR Clerk 2 also does SPR Clerk 1's tasks if queue is too long, e.g. more than 20 waiting voters.

• If Voter finds any marking or accidental smearing of indelible ink on ballot paper, request to change ballot paper. It is not necessary to bring eraser to erase or rub off the marks on the ballot paper. 

What NOT TO DO or you may be disqualified from voting:

• DO NOT wear any t-shirt or clothing that depicts a party's logo.
• DO NOT cause commotion or behave in an unruly manner.

I hope you have found this informative. Please share so that all Malaysians are informed about their rights as a voter, and the procedures of Malaysia's GE Polling Day.

All Malaysians, Let's Be Part Of A Better Change!