KUALA LUMPUR – Considering the health risks in conducting a general election in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is high time the Election Commission (EC) prepares postal voting for all eligible voters.
Election watchdog Bersih 2.0 said this should be the case for the coming Batu Sapi by-election, as well as any polls to take place in the coming months, as the country grapples with the impact of the virus crisis.
It is especially necessary seeing as to how Covid-19 cases have surged following the Sabah polls last month.
Bersih chairman Thomas Fann said the proposal to allow voters to cast their ballots through the post is feasible, and that it is just a matter of coming up with a transparent and tamper-proof process, and gazetting eligible voters.
“Take Batu Sapi, for instance. Voters residing there should be able to choose to vote by post, and the EC could introduce drop-off ballot boxes at designated polling centres, for example, five days before polling day.
“The EC can make it easy for voters to post their ballots by providing prepaid and addressed postal envelopes, and holding public awareness programmes on this.
“If more voters use postal voting, the crowd using the regular voting method on polling day will be reduced.”
Fann said the only real hurdle to realising the proposal is political will.
Batu Sapi will go to the polls on December 5, on the back of the September 26 Sabah election that has been largely blamed for the spike in coronavirus cases in the past month.
Speculation of an impending snap general election, as well as the Sarawak polls, has led to deeper public concerns about the health risks under the present circumstances.
The EC, in a press conference on Tuesday, allayed fears of another surge in Covid-19 cases due to the Batu Sapi by-election by introducing precautionary measures.
It has barred ceramah, walkabouts and home visits during the campaign period, with all activities to be conducted online via social media or by distributing materials through the post.
Possible poor turnout for Batu Sapi vote
Despite these measures, Fann said, it is likely that the voter turnout in Batu Sapi will be very low if postal voting is not provided as an option, as constituents will exercise caution.
This is considering the constituency is in eastern Sabah, where infections have been high over the last week.
“Seeing the spread of Covid-19 after the recent state election, most voters will be wary,” said Fann.
He added that it should be the EC’s constitutional duty to make it as convenient and safe as possible for voters to cast their ballots.
“They have to do their best to facilitate voting,” he said, referring to the proposal for full postal voting. – The Vibes, October 16, 2020
