Three ways to reform the postal voting process

Tindak Malaysia, an electoral refom NGO, calls on all Malaysian voters, especially those from six states facing state elections – Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan – to appeal to the Election Commission (EC), state assembly members and MPs for three major postal vote reforms for the coming state elections.

We commend the past efforts of the Election Commission in expanding the voter base for postal voters since the 2018 general election for state elections and the 2022 general election, which included overseas Malaysians.

We acknowledge the Election Commission has made great effort in producing materials to educate voters on what to do with postal votes.

However, the last November’s general election exposed serious deficiencies in the Election Commission’s handling of the greater postal voting base.

Though the postal vote share out of total votes issued is small, the expansion of postal voting rights to include overseas Malaysians and Tenaga Nasional Berhad workers resulted in a jump in the postal vote share.

With the exception of odd constituencies that had significant military presence (eg Bera and Jeli), urban seats like Subang, Petaling Jaya, Damansara and Bukit Bendera witnessed a growth in their postal vote share from 0 to lower 1% (in the 2018 general election) to 1 to over 2% (in the 2022 general election).

In fact, the top two parliamentary consituencies with the highest numerical growth in the number of postal vote ballots issued (since the 2018 general election) was Subang and Damansara (constituencies without major police or military presence).

Among the top 10 parliamentary constituencies (for the 2022 general election) with the highest growth in postal ballots issued, seven of them are large urban seats without significant military or police voting blocs. With a short notice of the election announcement on new classes of postal voters, a short campaign period and other factors, both domestic (some polling staff recruited after the postal vote deadline) and overseas Malaysian postal voters had great difficulty in exercising this right.

In light of the 2022 election experience, we have studied our 2018 postal vote reform proposal, consulted our own volunteers and submitted an updated postal vote reform to the Election Commission in May 2023.

While regulation amendment is not advisable for the state elections, we have determined three areas that the Election Commission can exercise its powers effectively to strengthen the postal voting process immediately.

Our three appeals to the Election Commission, state asssembly members and MPs are:

1. Immediate declaration of the overseas Malaysians of the six states as postal voters from 1 June 2023. For the 2022 general election, our research found that the Election Commission classed overseas Malaysians as postal voters a few days before the dissolution of the 14^th parliament. This is within the powers granted to the Election Commission through the Elections (Postal Voting) Regulations 2003. Early declaration of overseas Malaysians as eligible postal voters will prevent online registration crashes and give more opportunities for Malaysians to choose this form of voting right
2. Extend the campaign period up to 28 days (from nomination to final polling day). The Election Commission has been granted powers via the Elections (Conduct of Elections) Regulations 1981 to determine the date of nomination and the date of polling. This extended period will allow the postal votes to arrive in the hands of eligible Malaysian postal voters and provide sufficient time for the ballots to be returned to Malaysia. While some argue the long campaign period can be tiring, there is no obligation for the candidate to start the campaign immediately after nominations
3. Have closer cooperation with Wisma Putra, embassies, high commissions and consulates regarding the postal voting process. The close collaborations with these institutions is to facilitate the movements of postal votes and ensure ballots arrive on time in the respective constituencies. Since there will could be 245 state constituencies facing elections, it would be unreasonable for Malaysian voters and volunteer groups to bear the burden of ensuring the ballots arrive safely at the right returning officer’s office

Tindak Malaysia would like to reiterate that all Malaysian voters, particularly in the six states facing state elections, push through these straightforward appeals through their elected representatives.

Tindak Malaysia will advocate for these appeals in time to come with the hashtag #UndiPosBaik and encourages all Malaysians to read Tindak’s proposal for postal vote reform.

Tindak Malaysia appeals to everyone to disseminate Tindak’s postal vote reform with the hashtag #UndiPosBaik.

Tindak Malaysia hopes the Election Commission will restore public confidence in it with drastic improvements to the postal voting process for the coming state elections.

Postal vote reform proposal by Tindak Malaysia

Postal vote data in the 2018 and 2022 general elections

Danesh Prakash Chacko is director of Tindak Malaysia

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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