Home Coalitions Clean and Fair Elections Election Commission’s transferring of voters may affect polls results

Election Commission’s transferring of voters may affect polls results

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The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) calls upon the Election Commission to urgently respond to the issue of voters being unconstitutionally transferred across state and parliamentary constituencies.

On 1 July 2016, Bersih 2.0 visited the commission’s office to raise our concern about vote transfers. We handed over data showing that 118,774 voters were moved to different state constituencies, of which over 40,000 voters were also moved to different parliamentary constituencies.

The commission has promised to look into the issue, but unfortunately the commission wrote back to say that they needed more time. However, Bersih 2.0 has given the commission three weeks to analyse the data and we are surprised that the commission needed more time when they are the primary source for the data.

Today, we are here as we have brought affected voters to lodge their complaints.

We are also here because Bersih 2.0 has found that the changes carried out by the commission could potentially affect the result of the elections. For example, in the following parliamentary seats with marginal winning majority:

Parliamentary ConstituencyWinning Majority in 13th General ElectionsNumber of Voters transferred inNumber of Voters transferred out
035 Kuala Nerus610548500
058 Bagan Serai1,140603553
059 Bukit Gantang986487429
119 Titiwangsa8662520
140 Segamat1,2172,694868
141 Sekijang3,0077382,694
146 Muar1,64681531
150 Batu Pahat1,524508990
159 Pasir Gudang9350463

Given the significant impact, Bersih 2.0 reiterates that the changes made by the commission are unconstitutional because it causes the number of voters and boundaries of state and parliamentary constituencies to change. Such changes can only be done via a public redelineation exercise, which requires due process and parliamentary approval.

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Bersih 2.0’s public complaint hotline has received over 100 reports from voters, since it was set up on 1 June 2016. Many voters were unaware that their voting constituency had changed and asked why the changes were made.

Bersih 2.0 demands an immediate response from the commission to:

  • explain the specific reasons for the correction of each locality, in order for voters to assess and verify the changes;
  • reinstate voters who were moved across state and parliamentary constituencies. Return them to their original constituencies, because such changes can only be done via a public redelineation exercise.

It is therefore urgent that the commission meets with Bersih 2.0 as soon as possible to resolve what might be perceived as illegal tampering of the electoral roll and unconstitutional and covert delineation without adhering to due process.

Bersih 2.0 steering committee

22 July 2016

The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.

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Margaret Kam
14 Oct 2016 10.38am

Keep up with the excellent work Aliran. You can count on our support.

admin
admin
14 Oct 2016 5.01pm
Reply to  Margaret Kam

Thank you for your kind words!

Siew Eng Chuah
13 Oct 2016 10.57pm

but the original post is dated july.

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