IDE: With election on a Saturday, challenge is boosting turnout to 80pct

Now that polling day for the 15th general election (GE15) has been set on a Saturday, the challenge has been laid down for political parties and civil society organisations to build momentum so that voter turnout can be increased to over 80 percent.

Institut Darul Ehsan (IDE) senior research manager Khairul Arifin Mohd Munir said that holding the polls on a Saturday could increase participation.

“It has also become customary to vote on Saturday as the voting day for most by-elections after GE14 were on that day.

“Thus, the challenge for political parties now and Malaysians, including civil society, is how to build momentum so that the turnout percentage can be increased to over 80 percent,” said Khairul Arifin.

Earlier today, the Election Commission (EC) set Nov 19 as the polling day for GE15.

Nomination day is on Nov 5, with a 14-day campaigning period.

The matter was announced by EC chairperson Ghani Salleh at a press conference at the commission’s headquarters in Putrajaya this morning.

GE15 was called after caretaker prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob advised the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah to dissolve Parliament on Oct 10.

For the record, Saturday has been chosen five times as polling day since 1959.

Khairul Arifin said many factors will affect turnout, including voter attitudes, campaign methods, people’s awareness, and most importantly, the weather, given that the monsoon season is from November to December.

“Besides that, the principle of ‘facility to vote’ should also be used as a basis in helping the voting process.

“Schools that are too crowded with less than suitable entrances should be expanded to have some additional polling stations nearby.

“This will avoid traffic jams and prevent voters from standing in long queues,” he added.

He also suggested increasing the number of polling centres to make it easier for people to vote close to where they live.

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