The Election Commission (EC) met with 30 political parties today and among the issues discussed were lowering the voting age to 18 and automatic voter registration.

Following the meeting, EC chairperson Azhar Azizan Harun told the press that there were “no objections” against lowering the voting age but some groups had concerns about automatic voter registration.

“They called for automatic voter registration but said that the process needed to be studied.

“The effects of automatic voter registration also need to be looked at,” he said at the EC headquarters in Putrajaya.

For example, he added, the process would mean that voters will vote based on the address shown on their MyKads rather than their hometowns, should their addresses differ.

“Therefore, I think the policy needs to be understood. But I think in principle, automatic voter registration managed to get support (from parties),” Azhar said.

A constitutional amendment is needed before automatic voter registration can be implemented, he added.

During the meeting, parties had also requested for more voter data from the EC, and asked for the abolishment of the RM10 fee for objecting to a voter, both which Azhar said the commission would study.

Other issues discussed were how to clean up the electoral list, implement online voter registration, address the 3.6 million unregistered voters as well as discrepancies like “phantom voters” found in electoral rolls.

The parties who attended the meeting today included Bersatu, PKR, PAS, Parti Warisan Sabah, Umno, MCA, MIC, PBB, SUPP, Gerakan and MyPPP.

Other parties that attended were LDP, Upko, PBS, Kimma, United People’s Party (UPP), Makkal Sakti Malaysia, PPRS, SAPP, Solidariti Tanah Airku, PSM, Parti Alternatif Rakyat (PAP), Penang Front Party (PFP), Barisan India Se-Malaysia (AMIPF), Malaysian Ceylonese Congress (MCC), Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Bumi Kenyalang (PBK).

Previously, Azhar said EC had met with the Home Ministry, the National Registration Department, the police, the army, the Veteran Affairs Department, universities, think-tanks and NGOs including Bersih, Engage and the KL Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) to discuss ways to improve electoral processes.