SEREMBAN: The Election Commission (EC) has reminded voters in Saturday's (Aug 1) Negri Sembilan state election that they must surrender their mobile phones before voting.
Its secretary Datuk Khairul Shahril Idrus said voters must place their phones in a designated area after collecting their ballot papers and retrieve them once they have voted.
"The use of mobile phones at polling stations or streams is prohibited.
"Notices or posters banning the use of such devices will be placed both outside and inside polling stations to remind voters," he said in a statement on Friday (July 31).
Separately, Khairul Shahril also reminded employers to give their employees reasonable time off to vote.
This provision was clearly stated in the Election Offences Act 1954, he added.
Voters were also encouraged to vote according to the "Recommended Voting Time" on the MySPR Semak application although they are free to do so at their convenience during polling centre hours from 8am to 6pm, he said.
Khairul Shahril said voters, candidates and election workers entering polling centres were also prohibited from wearing clothing, hats, or face masks, or carrying materials bearing the name, logo, symbol, or image of any competing party or candidate.
Also prohibited are campaign materials, taglines, or slogans that imply support for or lean towards any political ideology.
"Failure to comply with or violating these established provisions may result in the voter being barred from entering the polling centre," he said.
He also advised voters not to surrender their identity cards to any individual other than the election officials on duty.
"The EC hopes that all parties will comply with election laws, regulations and ethics to ensure a smooth election process and avoid disrupting public order.
"Any violation of the relevant laws can result in legal action," he added.
He also reminded all contesting parties that the official campaigning period will end at 11.59pm tonight.
He said any form of campaigning, including canvassing for votes, both outside polling centres and through social media channels such as Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, Threads and others, was prohibited.
