Maran Perianen
The Melaka state election is today, Saturday 14 November. Some 687,697 voters will choose members for all 28 state seats. Polling centres are open from 8am to 6pm, and campaigning ended at 11.59pm on 13 November. The state also has a five-year plan to make Kota Laksamana the capital.
Notably, the state assembly was dissolved on 23 September. In 2021, Barisan Nasional won 21 seats, Pakatan Harapan five and Perikatan Nasional two. Nomination day was 31 October.
Here is how to check your polling centre, who is contesting and what to expect on the day. However, the Election Commission has not given a results time in the reports we read.
Melaka state election polling hours and your centre
In total, voting runs across 240 polling centres with 1,213 voting streams, according to Bernama. The roll covers 675,166 ordinary voters. It also has 9,769 military personnel and spouses and 2,762 police. The roll was updated to 22 September.
Therefore, check your centre before you leave home. Specifically, use the MySPR Semak app or the Election Commission portal. A voter check line is also listed at 03-8892 7218.
Importantly, bring your identity card. Staff will scan it with a new system called OCR-VA. It records your attendance at once. It now covers all voting streams in the 28 seats.
Separately, early voting took place on 10 November at 31 centres. It served 12,531 military and police personnel and spouses. Notably, The Edge put turnout at 94.96 per cent among those voting in person.
Who is contesting the Melaka state election
Bernama’s tally shows Pakatan Harapan contesting 24 of the 28 seats. Barisan Nasional is contesting 23. Meanwhile, Parti Bersama Malaysia is contesting 16 seats.
Likewise, Bersatu is fielding candidates in seven seats and Perikatan Nasional in five. In addition, Parti Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia is contesting one seat. Moreover, three independents are also in the race.
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Overall, those totals add up to 79 candidacies, by our sum. A party needs 15 of the 28 seats for a simple majority. As a result, many seats will see several candidates. Therefore, check your own seat’s candidate list before you vote.
Communications Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah said the ministry would use verified Election Commission information. He said he hoped results could come earlier. However, no time was given.
What Melaka state election voters should do today
Accordingly, leave early if you can. Polls stay open for 10 hours. Still, queues often build at midday. That is our guess, not an official forecast.
Furthermore, voters who do not know their stream should ask staff at the centre. Likewise, a postal vote line is listed at 03-8892 7080. That line is for postal voters only. Postal voters applied online from 23 September.
Meanwhile, the Commission says the process is otherwise unchanged. You present your card, get your ballot and vote as usual. Still, only the attendance check differs.
In short, the Melaka state election is today, with polls open from 8am to 6pm across 240 centres. Check your centre on MySPR Semak and bring your identity card. Results timing is not yet confirmed.
Yalinie Mathan
C. Khor
Sidhaarthan
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