KUALA LUMPUR: Voter turnout of between 72% and 75% is expected for the Negri Sembilan state election on Saturday, says Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun.
The Election Commission (EC) chairman said the forecast was based on the lively campaign atmosphere observed since the 14-day campaign period began on July 18.
“We expect voter turnout to range between 72% and 75%. We believe and hope voters will come out to exercise their democratic rights,” he told reporters after monitoring the early voting process at the Port Dickson district police headquarters yesterday.
Ramlan added that 206 reports of election offences had been lodged with the EC since campaigning began.
“Everything has been going well apart from several isolated cases, which have since been resolved.
“These offences involve campaign materials, among other things,” he said.
Meanwhile, early voting recorded a turnout of 91.06%, with 14,995 of the 16,467 eligible voters casting their ballots.
These voters comprised military and police personnel, as well as their spouses.
The EC had earlier forecast a 90% turnout for early voting.
According to EC secretary Datuk Khairul Shahril Idrus, early voting went on smoothly in stages at the 38 polling centres across the state.
Negri Sembilan police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Alzafny Ahmad said the early polling process went smoothly.
A total of 103 candidates are contesting the 36 state seats.Pakatan Harapan is contesting all 36 seats, while Barisan Nasional is contesting 25.
Perikatan Nasional is contesting 11 seats, while Bersatu is contesting 24 under its own party logo.
Berjasa, Parti Orang Asli Malaysia and Parti Sosialis Malaysia are fielding one candidate each, while four Independent candidates are also in the fray.
