All Malaysian Voters Living Overseas Can Now Apply For GE14 Postal Voting
The right to vote is now more accessible to many Malaysians who are abroad.
By Tang Ruxyn — 24 Jan 2018, 11:46 AM
Applications for postal voting is now open
The announcement on the matter was made by the Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Mohd Hashim Abdullah on Monday, 22 January.
In a press statement, Mohd Hisham said that registered Malaysian voters who are living abroad may begin to apply for postal voting facility beginning 23 January in order to vote in the upcoming 14th general election (GE14).
To be eligible for this postal facility, you must fulfil the criteria set by the EC
A document uploaded by the EC states the following terms and condition for those staying abroad and are applying for postal voting:
1.1 You must be a registered voter;
1.2 You must have been or returned to Malaysia for not less than 30 days in the past five years before the dissolution of Parliament or State Assembly.
You must come back home to vote if you are living in southern Thailand (Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala, Songkhla and Satun), Singapore, Brunei and Kalimantan province, Indonesia. Those residing in these places listed above will not be eligible for this facility and they would be required need to return to Malaysia to cast their vote in person on polling day.
"Malaysian nationals who have registered as absent voters abroad need not apply for the postal voting facility as they are already entitled to vote by post," Mohd Hisham said.
HOW TO APPLY:
2. Submit the completed form to the EC headquarters in Putrajaya either by:
i. email to [email protected];
ii. fax to 03-8881 0424/ 0399/ 0394/ 0386/ 0369;
iii. or mail to Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya Malaysia, Menara SPR, No. 2 Jalan P2T, Presint 2, Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan, 62100 Putrajaya (attention to Unit Pengurusan Undi Pos Luar Negara).
According to the EC, applications will close on the day the Parliament is dissolved, and any applications received after midnight on that day would not be processed.
There is no firm date yet on when GE14 will be held but if no election is called, then the 13th Parliament will be automatically dissolved on 24 June 2018.
All applications would be processed by the EC and applicants would be informed of their application status.
Malaysian voters who fall under the category of overseas absent voters have been reminded to update their personal details
Absent voters or Pengundi Tidak Hadir (PTH) may make the necessary changes and update their current address through the 'Sistem Aduan' and 'Pertanyaan SPR' on the EC website.
They would also need to attach a copy of their passport for verification.
"This is to ensure the postal ballot papers for GE14 are sent to the correct address," Mohd Hisham explained.