PUTRAJAYA, March 6 – Registered voters, including media personnel eligible to cast postal votes, may submit their applications from the date of Parliament’s dissolution to the day after the nomination of candidates. Election Commission deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar(Pic) said media personnel on duty outside their divisions on polling day can download Form 1A to apply for postal vote.
“Those who know they’ll be away from their area may complete Form 1A, sign and have it verified by their employer. The form can be submitted via fax, email or by-hand to their respective Returning Officers (RO),” he said during an interview with Bernama.
He said the RO will respond via fax or email and the voter’s name would be removed from the ordinary electoral roll. The Priority Envelope containing the postal ballot and return envelope will be mailed to the media personnel’s address stated on Form 1A or it may be collected personally by them, he added.
He explained that the Priority Envelope would contain two ballot papers, one each for Parliament and State Assembly seats, and a witness form (Form 2) to acknowledge that the voter has received the ballot papers.
“Media personnel must return the ballot paper with the attached Form 2 signed by a witness, otherwise the vote will not be counted,” he said, adding that the ballot paper could be sent by courier, posted or hand delivered. He said the ballot papers must be returned before 5 pm on polling day and ROs may be contacted to ensure receipt.
For the first time in the history of Malaysia’s general election, all media personnel, including journalists, cameramen and technicians who will be on duty outside their registered areas, will be eligible to apply for postal votes. Others eligible to do so are EC , police and armed forces personnel on duty that day.
BERNAMA
