Reform overseas postal voting ahead of general election

Global Bersih and Bersih call for reforms to Malaysia’s overseas postal voting system ahead of the next general election.

Global Bersih and Bersih are calling on the Electoral Commission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Wisma Putra) to urgently strengthen Malaysia’s overseas postal voting system following a sharp decline in participation in recent state elections.

In the Johor state election, category 1B postal ballots issued to overseas voters fell from 7,814 in 2022 to 1,044 in 2026 – a decline of 86.6%. The share of overseas voters among all postal voters also fell from 21.2% to 4.2%.

In the recent Negeri Sembilan state election, there was an increase from 159 postal voters in 2023 to 343. Despite this increase, the number of category 1B postal voters in Negeri Sembilan still accounted for less than 3% of all postal voters.

This low number should not be interpreted as evidence that Malaysians overseas no longer care about voting. Rather, it highlights weaknesses in voter education, mobilisation, election timelines, official communication and institutional support.

Overseas postal voting is not automatic. Voters must know when applications open, access the MySPR portal, apply within the required period, understand the procedures, receive and correctly complete their ballot and supporting documents, and return them to Malaysia before the deadline.

Without clear and repeated communication, eligible voters can easily miss one or more of these steps.

NGOs cannot substitute the state

Global Bersih and Bersih have previously undertaken extensive overseas voter education and mobilisation, including bilingual frequently asked questions, step-by-step voting guides, deadline reminders, direct troubleshooting and outreach through Malaysian diaspora networks.

Global Bersih has also carried out initiatives, with the support of Malaysian diaspora communities, to facilitate the collection and timely return of postal ballots during the last general election and subsequent state elections.

These efforts have shown both the commitment of overseas Malaysians to participate and the important role diaspora networks can play in overcoming practical challenges.

However, a fundamental democratic right cannot depend on whether civil society organisations have sufficient volunteers, funding or capacity during a particular election.

Civil society should be a partner, not a substitute for the state. The Electoral Commission must lead on election administration, including ensuring a workable system, while Wisma Putra and Malaysian foreign missions must provide structured and sustained support in educating Malaysians overseas.

Urgent reforms before general election

Electoral Commission

• Open category 1B applications earlier or introduce standing pre- registration, allowing overseas voters to prepare before an election is called.
• Standardise ballot dispatch and tracking, including a tracking reference for every overseas voter and clear procedures for delayed, damaged or missing ballots.
• Simplify and clarify ballot-completion and Form 2 requirements, while maintaining the necessary safeguards for electoral integrity.
• Extend the campaign period to at least 21-25 days. A 14-day period does not provide sufficient time for ballots to be produced, delivered internationally, completed and returned by polling day.

Wisma Putra and foreign missions

• Establish a formal working mechanism with the Electoral Commission for overseas voter information, problem escalation and post-election review.
• Appoint a trained overseas-voting focal officer at every Malaysian mission and maintain permanent bilingual information linked to the Electoral Commission and MySPR portal.
• Actively distribute verified voter information through mission websites, social media, mailing lists, student groups, professional associations and diaspora networks.
• Provide country-specific practical guidance on postal timelines, courier options, costs and other local challenges that may affect the timely return of ballots.

Exploring a fill-in ballot model

Global Bersih and Bersih also propose that the Electoral Commission conduct a controlled-fill-in ballot pilot to address challenges posed by international delivery times.

Under such a model, an approved voter could receive a blank ballot package before nomination day and complete it after nominations close using the official candidate list and a unique candidate code.

Any pilot would require proper legal review, verification procedures and safeguards to protect electoral integrity.

An early warning

The Johor and Negeri Sembilan elections should be treated as an early warning ahead of the next general election.

A voter’s ability to exercise the right to vote should not depend on where they live, nor on whether civil society organisations have sufficient resources during a particular election.

Global Bersih and Bersih therefore call on the Electoral Commission to work with relevant stakeholders, establish a clear timetable for reform and ensure that improvements are in place before the next general election.

Civil society and the Malaysian diaspora can be partners – but the responsibility for making overseas voting accessible and workable must ultimately rest with Malaysia’s public institutions. – Global Bersih

Support our work by making a donation. Tap to download the QR code below and scan this QR code from Gallery by using TnG e-wallet or most banking apps: