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VOTER turnout in the 16th Melaka state election reached 34.28% as at 11.30 am today, with 229,405 ballots cast as voters headed to polling centres across the state to elect representatives for all 28 constituencies.
The Election Commission (EC) said the figure represented a sharp increase from the 17.96% recorded at 10 am, when 120,162 voters had cast their ballots.
Serkam registered the highest turnout at 38.55%, followed by other constituencies, while Kesidang recorded the lowest participation at 29.88%.
The rising turnout comes as Barisan Nasional (BN) seeks to retain its two-thirds majority in the state assembly, a position it secured in the 2021 election after winning 21 of the 28 seats.
Pakatan Harapan (PH) won five seats in that election, while Perikatan Nasional (PN) took the remaining two.
This time, 79 candidates are contesting the 28 seats, with PH fielding 24 candidates and BN 23. Parti Bersama Malaysia is contesting 16 seats, followed by Bersatu with seven and PN with five.
Parti Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia has one candidate, while three independents are also in the race.
Among the contests attracting attention is Tanjung Bidara, where caretaker chief minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh is defending his seat against PH candidate Yunazri Mustamiri.
Ab Rauf, who cast his ballot at Sekolah Kebangsaan Jeram in Masjid Tanah, described the voting process there as orderly and urged electors to turn up early.
The constituency is among those being closely watched in an election that will test BN’s ability to retain support and PH’s efforts to make further inroads into the state.
EC chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun said more than 7,000 registered voters with disabilities had cast their ballots, describing their participation as encouraging.
He also expressed confidence that overall turnout could reach between 70% and 75%, above the 65.85% recorded in the previous state election.
The EC has set a 70% turnout target for today’s polls.
Weather conditions could influence participation in the remaining hours, with the Malaysian Meteorological Department forecasting thunderstorms across all three districts in Melaka later in the day.
BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had urged voters to cast their ballots early to avoid possible disruption from heavy rain.
Polling is being conducted at 240 centres involving 1,213 polling streams, with voting scheduled to close at 6 pm.
The early voting process, held on November 10, recorded a turnout of 94.96%, with 9,417 of the 9,917 eligible voters, comprising security personnel and their spouses, casting their ballots. Another 2,614 registered voters voted by post.
The first election results are expected from 9.30 pm, with the outcome dependent on the arrival of ballot boxes at tallying centres and the completion of counting.
The results will determine whether BN can retain its commanding position in the state assembly or whether its challengers can reshape the political balance in Melaka. - November 14, 2026
