FAQ

VOTER REGISTRATION

Who are eligible to register as voters?

Malaysian citizens aged 21 years and above and who reside in
any constituency in Malaysia.

Why should you register ?

You should register as a voter to enable you to exercise your
right to vote in an election, thereby fulfilling your responsibility
as a citizen.

How and where can you register ?

i) At permanent Registration Centres located at the Election
Commission HQ, State Election Offices or Post Offices with
computer facilities. Fill Form A based on your particulars in the
Identity Card, JPN KPPK 9 or JPN KPPK 11 Receipts issued
by the National Registration Department.

ii) At Mobile Registration Units set up by the Election Commission,
or registration by Asst. Registrars (from political parties) or by
Asst. Registrars at government departments. Applicant to fill
Form A based on particulars in the Identity Card, JPN KPPK 9
or JPN KPPK 11 Receipts issued by the National Registration
Department.

Where are the Registration Centres ?

i. Election Commission Headquarters, Putrajaya.
ii. State Elections Offices.
iii. Selected Post Offices with computer facilities.
iv. Mobile Registration Units at public places.
v. Shopping Malls or Supermarkets are considered public places. It is duplicating with (ir).
vi. District Offices.

When can you register ?

No	Place	Time
1	Election Commission Headquarters	OFFICE HOURS
2	State Elections Offices.
3	Selected Post Offices
4	District Offices
5	Mobile Registration Units	AS AND WHEN APPROPRIATE
6	Asst. Registrars (from political parties) temporarily appointed by Election Commission.	AS AND WHEN APPROPRIATE

Can the process of registration cater for electors who have
long names ?

The name of the elector must be the same as that appearing in
his/her Identity Card, subject to a maximum of 60 vowels.

Can registration be done at the Post Office using Resit JPN KPPK 11 or KPPK 9 issued by the National Registration Department ?

Yes. It is acceptable.

Can the spouse of an Armed Forces personnel register as an
ordinary voter ?

The spouse of an Armed Forces personnel is given the choice to
register either as an ordinary voter or as a Postal Voter voter
according to the Election (Registration of Electors) Regulation, 2002.

Can registration be done using the old Identity Card containing 8 digits ?

Existing Regulations allow the use of old Identity Cards containing 8
digits for registration purposes.

Can the Birth Certificate be used for registration purposes ?

No.

Can registration be done on behalf of another person (relation)?

Not allowed. According to Election ( Registration of Electors )
Regulation 2002, a person wishing to register as a voter must appear in person.

REGISTRATION : CHANGE OF ADDRESS AND INFORMATION IN THE ELECTORAL ROLL

How do you change the address listed in the Electoral Roll to
the new address shown in the Identity Card ?

Electors can apply for a change of address using the appropriate
form at any Registration Centre or the Asst. Registrars temporarily
appointed by the Election Commission, except those Asst. Registrars appointed from political parties.

Where can I check the status of my registration ?

i. Election Commission Headquarters, Putrajaya. (Tel : 03-88856666)
ii. State Elections Offices.
iii. Election Commission Website : www.spr.gov.my
iv. Mobile Registration Units.

What are the procedures that must be followed if an elector
wishes to make changes to existing information, such as
religion and race ?

Changes on information regarding status of religion and race can be
made by an elector in person at the State Elections Office by
producing the Identity Card and other relevant evidences.

How long will it take for the Election Commission to rectify the
record in the Electoral Roll on information such as religion,
race, and other details as shown in the Identity Card ?

i. Minor changes like status of religion and race can be made
immediately by the State Elections Office which will then relay the
information to the Election Commission HQrs for further action.

ii. Rectification of names and other details as shown in the Identity Card will be made by the Chief Registrar at the Election Commission HQrs within 2 weeks.

iii) To overcome this problem, registered voters are advised to check their particulars in the Electoral Roll, and if necessary, request for changes to be made according to information in the Identity Card.

Why is it that there are cases of couples who vote separately at different voting centres?

They have registered as electors using different addresses.Possibly
also due to a mistake made during the data entry by the EC because of similarity of names of many places in this country.

Why are there cases of discrepancies in the gender of electors in the Electoral Roll and in their Identity Card ?

Probably a mistake made during data entry by the National
Registration Department, or during the process of registration of the voter.

Why are there cases of differences in the Identity Card number of an elector in the Electoral Roll and in his Identity Card itself ?

Probably caused by data entry during the process of registration
according to the previous system. The present registration system in use now will not cause such as a discrepancy since the Election
Commission is now On - Line with the National Registration
Department to verify details of an applicant during registration.

Can we change the name of a person who has converted to Islam to reflect his Islamic name while his original name is still retained in his Identity Card ?

This is not allowed. The person has to first change his name in his
Identity Card at the National Registration Department and then make an application to change his name on the Electoral Roll.

Why is it that a registered voter, despite having changed his
address, still finds himself listed at his original voting centre ?

This happens because the new address submitted for change is not
the same as that shown in the Identity Card. Cases like this only
happened to requests for change of address before 16 July 2002. In
any case, if a registered voter wishes to vote at the original voting
centre he was first registered, he need not apply for a change of voting centre. On the other hand, if a registered voter wishes to change his voting centre, he has first to apply for a change of address in his Identity Card at the National Registration Department. Only then can he request to change his voting centre based on the new address in his Identity Card. This request for change of voting centre can be made at any Post Office, State Elections Office or the Election Commission HQrs at Putrajaya. All those requesting for such a change should ensure that details are accurately filled in the appropriate form before leaving the registration counter.

CLEANSING OF ELECTORAL ROLL

Why are there cases where the names of those who have died are still listed in the electoral roll ?

This is because at the material point in time the Election Commission has not received reports or confirmation from the National Registration Department of those registered voters who have died to enable their names to be expunged from the Roll. Or the process of removing their names was still on - going at that particular point in time.

Can the Election Commission expunge the names of those
registered voters from the Electoral Roll based on the record and confirmation from the National Registration Department ?

Can be done after the Election Commission is satisfied with evidence of record and recommendations by the Chief Registrar of the Election Commission.

What happens when a registered voter dies, or has lost his right to vote ?

His next - of - kin should make a report to the State Elections Office
together with the Death Certificate and other related documents.

PHANTOM VOTERS

What is meant by “ Phantom Voters “?

The term “Phantom Voter”, if it is to be used at all, can be taken to mean a person who is not eligible to vote resorts to using a false Identity Card bearing the name and particulars of a dead person whose name is still listed in the Electoral Roll.

CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS

What are the requirements needed to enable a person to vote ?

A Malaysian citizen who has registered as a voter with the Election
Commission and has his/her name listed on the Electoral Roll.

What is the quantum of election deposit required to contest for a Parliamentary or State Seat ?

• RM 10,000 as deposit for candidate contesting for a Parliamentary
Seat.
• RM 5,000 for election campaign materials deposit for a Parliamentary Seat.
• RM 5,000 for a candidate contesting for a State Seat..
• RM 3,000 for election campaign materials deposit for a State Seat.

If a candidate wishes to contest for a Parliamentary as well as State Seat, does he need to put up deposits for both Seats ?

Yes, i.e. , RM 5,000 as deposit for a State Seat, and RM 10, 000 as
deposit for a Parliamentary Seat.

Where can the candidate pay his deposit and the quantum required ?

The election deposit and the election campaign material deposit can be paid at the Nomination Centre or at the respective State Elections Office.Total quantum payable is RM 23,000.00 for a candidate wishing to contest both a State as well as Parliamentary Seat.

How can a voter ascertain his correct polling centre ?

Check the Election Commission’s website www.spr.gov.my , or contact the Election Commission’s HQrs at Putrajaya, or contact the State Elections Office, or through SMS facilities made available before/during an election.

Why are there several polling stations ( streams ) in some polling centres ?

This is to cater for the large number of registered voters in such centres so as to ensure that polling can be conducted smoothly. Generally, each stream will cater for not more than 700 voters.

When does polling begin?

In general, the polling centre is opened from 8.00 am until 5.00 pm.
However, in some remote areas where the numbers of voter are small, the EC will determine in advance for a shorter polling period.

What are the documents required for vote casting ?

Either MyKard, or the older version of the Identity Card. Resit JPN.KPPK 9 or Resit JPN.KPPK 11 issued or certified by the National Registration Department may also be used. Other documents that can be used include:

• Restricted Malaysian Passport.
• Malaysian Passport.
• Driving License, with photograph
• Authority Card issued by any government authority, with the
name, identity card number and photograph of holder.

Why should a voter who already knows his polling station ( stream ) check again with the Election Commission Booth ?

There is no need for the voter to do so. He should proceed directly to the correct polling stream.

Where are the Nomination Centres and at what time do they open ?

Normally the Nomination Centres are located at the District Offices,
Municipality Halls, Community Halls and Schools Halls, or any other
premise determined to be suitable by the Election Commission.
The submission of nomination forms is from 9.00 am to 10.00 am. The period for objection is from 10.00 am to 11.00 am.

When can the election deposit be refunded ?

i) The election deposit can be refunded after the results of the election are announced provided he/she secures more than 1/8 of the total votes cast.
ii) ii) The deposit for the election campaign materials will only be
refunded after all his/her campaign materials have been cleared
and certified by the respective Local Authority.

Does the Election Commission have a special stream at the polling centre to cater for senior citizens, handicapped people and pregnant women ?

At polling centre, the Election Commission has a special stream ( Stream No. 1 ) for senior citizens. The Presiding Officer at the polling stream or the police personal in-charge outside the stream, will give priority to pregnant women and the handicapped to cast their vote.

A prospective candidate wishes to contest for a State as well as Parliamentary Seat, but the Nomination Centre for these Seats is different and far apart. How does he overcome this problem ?

The nomination forms can be submitted to the Returning Officer at the Nomination Centre from 9.00 am to 10.00 am. The forms can be submitted by the candidate, his proposer and his seconder, or by any two of them or even by any one of them.

Can a person request to cast his vote, despite being informed by the polling clerk that he/she has been listed as having voted ?

A person, whose name listed on the Electoral Roll has been as having voted, will not be given a ballot paper to vote.

Can a person use the Identity Card of someone else to vote ?

Not allowed.

Why is it that some election workers receive their allowances late ?

The State Elections Office needs to process payment of allowances
according to Treasury procedures. Delays can be caused by errors in account number, Identity Card number or the name of the worker.

In the event a person is not allowed to cast his vote, where can he lodge a report?

At the nearest Police Station.

Can a person vote on behalf of another person ?

No. However in specific cases, like for instance, a relative of a blind
registered voter may assist the person to cast his/her vote on condition that the relative fills Form 10 issued by the Presiding Officer at the polling stream.

Why is it that a pen is not allowed to be used to mark the ballot
paper ?

A pen is allowed, but a pencil is provided to facilitate the marking of
the ballot.

If the mark on the ballot paper is outside the space provided in the paper, can the ballot paper be accepted as legitimate ?

The ballot paper can be accepted so long as the intention of the voter in choosing his/her choice is shown by a mark in the space provided.

Can a registered voter who has registered in Sabah or Sarawak, but who now resides in the Peninsula, request to vote via postal voting ?

No, except only if he fulfills the conditions under Regulations 3 (1) (a) - (f), Elections ( Postal Voting ) Regulation 2003.

DELIMITATION

What is the frequency of conducting a review of the delimitation of constituencies ?

According the Article 113 (2) (ii) of the Federal Constitution, a review shall be made not less than 8 and not more than 10 years from the date the last delimitation was conducted.

Who are authorized to submit representations ?

i- State Governments
ii- Local Authorities
iii- Registered voters

When can a public enquiry be made if there are objections to the outcome of the delimitation exercise ?

According to Section 7, Schedule 13 of the Federal Constitution, a
local enquiry must be made when objections are received from:

i) State Governments
ii) Local Authorities.
iii) Not less than 100 voters registered in the constituency concerned.

What are the guiding principles used for the delimitation exercise ?

The principles decided according to Section 4, Part 4 of the 13th Schedule of the Federal Constitution are:

i) The numbers of electors in each constituency should de approximately equal except that, having regard to the greater difficulty of reaching electors in the country districts and other disadvantages facing rural constituencies, a measure of weightage for area should be given to such constituencies.
ii) The limits of Constituencies should not cross State boundaries.
iii) Available administrative facilities.
iv) Maintenance of local ties.

What constitutes a constituency ?

A constituency is formed through a combination of several voting districts which individually contain several localities.

What is meant by a Voting District ?

A Voting District has its own boundary, and within each of the districts are several localities. A coustituency be it Parliament or State, is comprised of several Voting Districts depending on the size of the coustituency as decided by the Election Commission.

What is meant by a Locality ?

A Locality is a unit in a Voting District, and it contains a number
of registered voters.

What is the current number of Parliamentary and State
Constituencies in Malaysia ?

222 Parliamentary and 576 State Constituencies.

What are the reasons that can be considered by the EC for the
delimitation of boundaries ?

i) When there is an increase in the number of Parliamentary or State Seats, as approved by act of Law in Parliament according to Article 113 (3A).
ii) When there is a change in the administrative boundary of a State, e.g. delineation to form a Federal Territory.

When can the new constituencies be legally contested for the
purposes of holding an election ?

According to Section 12, Part 2 of the 13th Schedule of the Federal
Constitution, this can be done after the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly for the State Seats or Parliament for the Parliamentary Seats.

Is it necessary that during the delimitation exercise the number of constituencies be increased ?

According to the Federal Constitution, there is no requirement for the EC to increase the number of constituencies during the delimitation exercise.

Do the results of the delimitation exercise carried out by the
Election Commission only benefit the ruling party ?

The delimitation exercise carried out by the Election Commission does not favour any political party, neither the ruling party nor the opposition, since both have equal chances of winning an election, as demonstrated in Terengganu and Kelantan after the delimitation exercise in 1994. Delimitation exercises are carried out based on the principles and requirements stipulated in the 13th Schedule of the Federal Constitution and decided by the EC on the basis of fairness to all concerned.