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495,196 Voters In Melaka To Hit The Polls This 20 November

Election Commission (EC) chairman Abdul Ghani said he expects a 70% turnout rate.

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The Election Commission (EC) has set 20 November for the Melaka state election to take place

In a press conference today, 18 October, EC chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh said the nomination day will be on 8 November and early voting will begin on 16 November.

Melaka electorates can cast their votes on the third Saturday of November.

"The campaign period is 12 days beginning the day after the nomination day, and lasts until 11.59pm on 19 November," Berita Harian quoted Abdul Ghani as saying.

EC chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh.

EC chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh.

Image via Berita RTM (YouTube)

The EC's announcement today comes about two weeks after the state assembly was dissolved

On 4 October, four state assemblypersons (ADUNs) withdrew their support for then Menteri Besar (MB) Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali.

They claimed the state government had collapsed after their withdrawal of support.

The next day, 5 October, State Assembly Speaker Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh announced that Melaka Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam had dissolved the Melaka state government.

The dissolution prompted a state election to take place within the next 60 days while the country is battling the COVID-19 pandemic.

Photo for illustration purposes only.

Photo for illustration purposes only.

Image via Bernama via South China Morning Post

In a statement, Abdul Ghani said there are 495,196 registered voters in the state, and he expects a 70% turnout rate

The EC chairman said they will deploy 108 officers and assistants to conduct the state election, reported Berita RTM.

He added that EC will also deploy 28 teams to monitor all campaign activities in Melaka.

He also said all voters must abide by COVID-19 protocols as laid out by the Malaysian National Security Council (MKN), the Ministry of Health (MOH), and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM).

12,290 personnel will be appointed to monitor the state election process, and that there will be 248 voting centres in total, he said in the statement dated today.

EC will need about RM46 million to organise the state election.

The Melaka state assembly has 28 seats.

Sungai Udang ADUN Datuk Seri Idris Haron said the reason he withdrew support for Sulaiman was to defend the interest of Melakans:

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri expressed his concern over the possibility of a re-emergence of the COVID-19 outbreak in the state should a Melaka state election be held:

Read more about political issues in the state here:

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