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EARLY voting got under way across Negeri Sembilan on Tuesday as 22,339 members of the security forces and their spouses cast the first ballots in the state's 16th election, four days before voters head to the polls on 1 August.
The Election Commission (EC) said the early electorate comprises 16,884 members of the Malaysian Armed Forces and their spouses, together with 5,455 Royal Malaysia Police personnel and their spouses.
Voting is being conducted at 38 early polling centres with 70 polling streams across the state. Of the total, 30 centres have been designated for police personnel, while the remaining eight cater for military voters.
All polling centres opened simultaneously at 8.00am before closing in stages throughout the day. Eighteen centres are scheduled to close at noon, two at 2.00pm, while the remaining 18 will remain open until 5.00pm.
Among the principal early voting venues are the Army Basic Training Centre (PUSASDA) in Port Dickson, the Negeri Sembilan Police Contingent Headquarters, the Sendayan Air Base in Seremban and the Nilai District Police Headquarters.
The early voting exercise marks the first electoral milestone ahead of polling day on Saturday.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has advised voters to cast their ballots early, forecasting generally fair conditions across most parts of the state in the morning, although Port Dickson is expected to experience heavy rain and thunderstorms.
Thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rain are forecast to spread across much of Negeri Sembilan during the afternoon.
The state election is being contested by 103 candidates seeking mandates in all 36 seats of the Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly following the dissolution of the assembly on 5 June.
Pakatan Harapan is contesting all 36 constituencies through PKR (16), DAP (11) and Amanah (9), while Barisan Nasional has fielded 25 candidates comprising UMNO (16), MCA (7) and MIC (2).
Bersatu is contesting 24 seats as an independent party, while Perikatan Nasional has fielded 11 candidates through PAS (5), Parti Wawasan Negara (4), Gerakan (1) and MIPP (1). Berjasa is contesting seven seats, while Parti Orang Asli Malaysia (ASLI) and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) have each fielded one candidate. - July 28, 2026
