The elections for various posts in PKR began today, with members in Kedah and Penang the first to go to the polls as early as 9am.

The focus will be on the post of deputy president after Anwar Ibrahim been returned unopposed as president on Aug 5.

The contest for the post of deputy president is a straight fight between Gombak MP and Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali and former Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli.

The members will elect vice-presidents, Youth chief, Wanita chief and members of the central leadership council.

They will also pick their representatives at the divisional level, namely the chief, deputy chief, vice-chiefs and 15 divisional committee members, as well as the divisional Youth chief, Youth deputy chief, Youth vice-chiefs and 15 Youth committee members.

The members will also elect the divisional Wanita chief, Wanita deputy chief, Wanita vice-chiefs and seven Wanita committee members.

These party elections are historic as the system of electronic voting or e-voting is being used for the first time.

A total of 800,000 PKR members around the country are eligible to vote in the elections.

The elections in Perlis and Perak will take place on Sept 23; Malacca, Sept 29; Johor, Sept 30; Kelantan and Terengganu, Oct 5; Pahang, Oct 6; Federal Territories, Oct 7; Selangor, Oct 13, 14 and 21; Negeri Sembilan, Oct 20; Sarawak, Oct 20 and 21 and Sabah, Oct 27 and 28.

According to Penang PKR leadership council secretary Zulkiefly Saad, a total of  55,132 PKR members from 13 divisions in the state are eligible to vote today, with results expected to be known by 6pm.

- Bernama