[PHOTOS] Early voting to determine the future of Melaka

KUALA LUMPUR – Early voting for the Melaka election appeared to be smooth today, with voters beginning to fill 24 early voting stations around 8am.

The early voting period allowed 11,557 police and military personnel, as well as their spouses, to vote until early polling centres closed at 5.30pm.

It was also reported that some candidates arrived early at the polling stations to ensure that the voting process worked smoothly and transparently.

The Melaka election is the first time that voting is being done according to strict standard operating procedures to ensure that the Covid-19 virus is not spread.

A day before polling day, the Election Commission ensured that each early polling station was sanitised and all information related to SOPs was displayed during the voting process.

Health workers equipped with personal protective equipment were seen performing sanitation in all areas, especially outside the polling stations and ballot box areas that were the focus of voters.

During today's polling, voter turnout was high in the morning, with 64% casting their ballots as at 1pm.

Interestingly, those with Covid-19 symptoms were also allowed to cast their votes this time so that the democratic process would be implemented.

However, those with symptoms were placed in special rooms, marked with ink smears using disposable brushes, and had their ballot papers sanitised before being placed in the ballot box.

After the polls closed at 5.30pm, about 89.90% or 10,390 voters from police and military personnel and their spouses had cast their ballots at the 24 early polling stations.

The Vibes photographers AZIM RAHMAN and ALIF OMAR witnessed the early voting process, with only five days left for campaigning before polling this Saturday. – The Vibes, November 16, 2021