Count early votes on same day to avoid fraud, says Nurul Izzah

SUNGAI BESAR: Pakatan Harapan wants the early votes to be counted on the same day they are cast, claiming that keeping them until the polling day would lead to fraud.

PKR vice president Nurul Izzah Anwar said counting the early votes as soon as the ballots are closed would ensure a fair election process.

The early votes for both the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections are scheduled to be cast on Tuesday. Polling is on Saturday.

"The ACE Electoral Knowledge Network, an international collaboration that advocates for legitimate, democratic elections, asserts that ‘best electoral practices require the counting of votes to commence as soon as the polls close, and the best scenario involves the votes being counted on the same day,’” said Nurul Izzah who read from a statement at the Pakatan daily press conference.

She added that the international body criticised the window period between the casting of early votes and the counting of the votes days later as this could lead to electoral fraud.

"We must urge extra vigilance to provide Malaysians with a free and fair electoral platform.

"The EC must ensure transparency by making sure that watchful eyes are kept on the ballot boxes that carry the votes of our people," she added.

According to Nurul Izzah, early voters and postal voters contributed 3.4 percent of the total votes cast in 2013 general election.