Election Commission says 80 per cent ready for Johor poll as key dates near

THE Election Commission (EC) says it is well advanced in preparations for the upcoming Johor state election, with operational readiness estimated at between 70 and 80 per cent as the country moves closer to the formal announcement of key electoral dates.

EC chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun said the commission had already received official notification of the dissolution of the Johor State Legislative Assembly from the Speaker, enabling it to activate full-scale election preparations.

He said planning work had begun earlier in anticipation of the dissolution, including training sessions, briefings, identification of returning officers and procurement of essential election materials.

“I can say we are about 70 to 80 per cent ready. We have 60 days from the date of dissolution, and God willing, we are confident we can conduct this election smoothly without any problems,” he said.

Ramlan made the remarks during a courtesy visit by media and corporate representatives to the Election Commission (EC) headquarters on Friday.

He said the commission would hold a special meeting in mid-June to finalise key electoral dates, including nomination day, early voting and polling day, although the exact date of the meeting has yet to be confirmed.

“The date has not been finalised because there are several details we need to obtain, for example the electoral roll and so on. God willing, in the near future we will announce a special meeting to determine the dates (for nomination day, early voting and polling day),” he said.

The EC chairman added that the commission does not expect logistical difficulties even if voter numbers increase compared with previous elections, citing established systems and procedures already in place.

He stressed that the commission has comprehensive standard operating procedures to manage all types of elections, including general elections, by-elections and state polls.

“We actually already have SOPs for conducting all by-elections, general elections and the like. God willing, there will be no problem for us to implement them,” he said.

Ramlan also said the commission is preparing proactive measures to encourage voter turnout, with a particular focus on younger voters who have historically shown lower participation rates.

He said engagement efforts would be intensified to ensure maximum participation in the upcoming election, which is expected to be closely watched given its political significance at state level.

The Johor state election is expected to be one of the earliest major electoral tests following recent political developments in several states, with attention now turning to how parties and voters will respond once the official campaign period begins. - June 5, 2026