KLUANG: The Election Commission (EC) is targeting a 96% turnout for early voting in the Johor state election, with an 88.6% or 18,258 voters as of 2pm on Tuesday (July 7).
EC chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun said the target was based on the turnout achieved in previous elections.
"Based on our previous experience, early voting turnout can reach as high as 96% and we are maintaining that projection," he told a press conference after observing the early voting process at Kem Mahkota here.
Commenting on Tuesday's early voting process, Ramlan said 62 early voting centres were opened across the state at 8am.
"Of the total, 29 centres closed at noon, another five closed at 2pm, while the remaining 28 will close at 5pm," he said.
According to Ramlan, the early voting involved 20,607 electors, comprising 8,544 personnel from the Malaysian Armed Forces and their spouses as well as 12,063 police personnel and their spouses.
Ramlan said the early ballot boxes would be kept at police stations before vote counting begins on Saturday (July 11).
"Early ballots will only be counted on polling day starting 5pm. We expect the full results to be known before midnight and we hope they can be available as early as 10pm," he said.
He urged the 2.7 million eligible ordinary voters to turn out in large numbers on Saturday to fulfil their civic responsibility.
"This is an opportunity for all of us to contribute to the nation through the democratic system that we uphold." – Bernama
For the latest updates on the 16th Johor Election, visit www.thestar.com.my/tag/State+Polls+2026
