Over 675,000 ordinary voters head to the polls today in the Melaka State Election to decide the fate of 79 candidates competing across 28 state seats.
MELAKA: After the Melaka State Election campaign ended at midnight last night, the power to choose now shifts to 675,166 ordinary voters who will determine the fate of 79 candidates competing for 28 state assembly seats today.
From speeches to face-to-face meetings, various strategies were deployed by political parties throughout the 14-day campaign to convince the people that they are the best choice to voice and fulfil the aspirations of the residents of this historic state.
Yesterday, Election Commission (EC) deputy chairman Dr. Azmi Sharom aimed for a voter turnout percentage of around 70 per cent in this state election, with the full results expected to be known before midnight.
The EC had previously announced 240 polling centres with 1,213 voting streams opened throughout the state from 8 am to 6 pm, to enable registered voters to cast their votes.
Overall, a total of 687,697 registered voters are eligible to vote in this Melaka State Election, including 12,531 military personnel and their spouses, as well as police officers and their spouses who did so through early voting on Tuesday.
The early voting, which involved 31 polling centres, recorded 9,417 or 94.96 per cent of the 9,917 voters who physically cast their votes on that day, while 2,614 others voted by post.
Pakatan Harapan (PH) fielded the most candidates, with 24 seats, followed by Barisan Nasional (BN) with 23 candidates, Parti Bersama Malaysia (16), Bersatu (seven), Perikatan Nasional (five), Parti Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (one) and three independent candidates.
This election is held following the dissolution of the 15th Melaka State Assembly on Sept 23 after receiving the consent of the Yang Dipertua Negeri Melaka, Tun Mohd Ali Rustam.
In the 15th Melaka State Election held in November 2021, BN won 21 out of 28 state seats, with PH (five) and PN (two).
