The Election Commission (EC) today rubbished rumours circulating in Sibu that it will know whom voters voted for in the Sibu by-election on Sunday.

Its deputy chairperson Wan Ahmad Wan Omar gave his assurance that voting confidentiality would not be compromised.

"There is now no longer any serial numbers in each ballot paper like in the past.

"So there will be no number for the election workers to record when issuing them,"he said.

He said the last time that ballot papers containing serial numbers were used was in the 2006 Sarawak state election.

He said the law had since then be amended to do away with such requirement.

"It is very important that the public ignore such rumours so that they can turn out in full force to vote.

"We are hoping for a higher turnout. The turnout in the last election was only 67.8 per cent. We are also praying for fine weather too," he said.

On the preparations for Sunday, he said all were in place.

"We would like voters to come early. Twenty-two of the 45 polling stations will close at 5pm but others might close much earlier, either at 1pm, 2pm or 4pm.

We will have enough time to bring all the ballot boxes to the tallying centre at the Sibu Civic Centre and for the result to be announced as soon as possible," he added.

- Bernama