Thumb print biometric system for 13th GE?

The Election Commission (EC) plans to introduce the usage of thumb print biometric system for balloting process in the next general election.

It is now being studied by the commission and EC chairperson Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof indicated that the new computerised voting registration system would be in place for the 13th general election if all goes according to plan.

“Instead of using indelible ink, we should look into other options such the biometric system.

“We are studying the thumb print system to identify and register each individual voter before casting ballot,” he told a press conference in Seberang Jaya, Penang.

He said the indelible ink was being used only in India and Indonesia, two densely populated nations, while many countries were rapidly deploying technological aided measures to improve electoral process.

Despite numerous complaints on phantom voters and multiple voting, he said the EC had not officially caught anyone committing such offences, at least not under his tenure.

However, he plans to introduce the thumb print system to erase any lingering doubts of vote fraudulence in the country’s electoral process.

He pointed out that the thumb print system had been successfully deployed by the immigration authorities to facilitate the deportation of illegal immigrants.

EC wants free and fair election culture

“EC always want to improve the electoral process by introducing new voting methods and process,” he said, adding that the commission would want to create a free and fair election culture in the country, starting with next week’s Penanti by-election.

Today is nomination day while polling falls on Sunday, May 31, for the Penanti by-election, which is being held following the resignation of incumbent state assemblyperson Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin.

On Manek Urai by-election in Kelantan, Abdul Aziz said the EC would hold a meeting next Thursday, to decide on the dates for its polling, nomination and issuance of election writs.

Under the election laws, the polling should be held by July 21, which is within 60 days since the death of state assemblyperson Ismail Yaacob, 60, who passed away at Raja Zainab Hospital in Kota Bharu at 5.55am today.

The EC would also announce all dates of election process in connection with the by-election by next 10 days.

Ismail won the seat in the 2008 general election with 1,352 vote-majority over Umno's Zulkepli Omar. He polled 5,746 votes against Zulkepli’s 4,394. Voters turnout was 84.23 per cent.

Abdul Aziz, meanwhile, did not want to forecast on the voters’ turnout for the coming Penanti by-election. He said that voters’ turnout in Penanti in the last general election was 82.14 per cent.

“Generally, turnouts for by-elections are higher than general elections. But I still cannot guess the possible turnout for Penanti,” he said, hinting that Barisan Nasional’s absence from the contest could steal the spark from the by-election.