THE Election Commission (EC) is studying a proposal to extend the campaign period from 14 days to three weeks to improve the postal voting process following complaints from overseas voters facing difficulties returning their ballot papers.
EC Chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun said the EC is aware of complaints that the time currently allocated is causing some postal voters to have difficulty returning their ballot papers within the specified period.
"With postal voting, sometimes there are complaints stating that the period given for them to return their votes, especially from overseas, is too short.
"The matter is currently being addressed, and the EC is engaging with relevant parties to improve the postal voting method," he said in an exclusive interview with Berita Harian.
He explained that this was among the proposed improvements that could be implemented immediately without the need for legal amendments.
"However, it still brings other issues, including workload and logistical challenges that need to be addressed," he said.
He also said that the EC was looking at modern practices in other countries, including the use of biometrics.
"One example of a more modern approach is the use of biometrics. However, we need to consider various aspects, as the adoption of such technology requires thorough preparation.
"The most important thing in an election is to ensure there are no elements that could cast doubt on the results," he said.
Ramlan stressed that overall, the electoral process in this country has been running smoothly.
"The voting process so far has been going very well. Only the ink issue is something we can improve on," he said. – October 5, 2025
