Sep 15, 2011

Register as a voter today and practice your rights of democracy

A. ELECTOR REGISTRATION



1. Preamble


According to Article 113 of the Federal Constitution, one of the functions of the EC is to register qualified citizens as electors, to enable them to participate in the electoral process to elect their own representative to represent their voice in the House of Representatives or in the State Legislative Assembly.


The EC had carried out this function since its establishment without fail. The system of seasonal registration where qualified citizens could register only once a year for a period of between 21 to 42 days has been replaced with all-year-round registration since 16 July 2002.






2. Why You Need To Register ?


It is the right of every qualified citizen to elect the government of their choice to govern the country by electing their representatives to represents them in the House of Representatives and the State Legislative Assemblies. You can vote for a representative of your choice during the general election or a by-election as an elector. You will not be allowed to vote if your name is not listed in the electoral roll.






3. Who Can Register ?


To register as an elector, one must:


(a) be a Malaysian citizen;


(b) be 21 years of age or above;


(c) reside in the constituent where one wishes to be registered as an elector; and


(d) must not have being barred/disqualified by any laws in force.






4. Types of Registration


The EC has 2 types of registration and they are:


(a) New Registration: The EC receives applications from citizens who apply to register as an elector for the first time.


(b) Registering Change of Address and thereby Polling Centre: The EC also receives applications from registered electors who applies to replace their old address in the electoral roll with their new address. Request for change of address is related to the change of polling centre. When an elector moves to a new address and register it with the EC, his/her new polling centre will be determined according to his/her new registered address.






5. Types of Electors


According to the election laws, the EC can register 2 types of electors:


(a) Normal Electors: Normal electors are registered electors who need to be present at polling centre to cast their votes during polling.


(b) Absent Voters: Absent voters are those specified under Regulation 2, Elections (Registration of Electors) Regulations 2002 i.e. members of the Malaysia Armed Forces and their spouses, Malaysian civil servants who are serving abroad and their spouses and full-time Malaysian students abroad and their spouses. Absent voters are permitted to cast their vote through postal voting.






6. Where to Register ?




Normal Electors


If you are a qualified citizen but have not yet registered as an elector or if you are a registered elector who wish to register your new residential address, you can do this at the following places:


(a) EC offices


(b) Computerized Post offices


(c) With representatives appointed by the EC at government agencies


(d) With representatives from political parties appointed by the EC (new registration ONLY)


(e) EC outreach teams [No activity for this moments]




If you are not qualified to be an absent voter and you are residing overseas, you still can register as a normal elector at the Malaysian High Commission, Embassy or consulate offices abroad.




7. Absent Voters


If you are a qualified absent voter, you can register your name as an elector at the following places:


(a) Department of Records and Pensions, Ministry of Defense


(b) Malaysian High Commission, Embassy or consulate offices abroad for civil servants, students and their spouses living abroad






8. How to Register ?




Normal Electors


To register as a normal elector, you need to:


(a) come personally to any of the registration centre;


(b) produce your MyKad to the EC staff on duty who will fill the registration form for you;


(c) check your particulars in the completed form that is given to you by the EC staff before you sign the form;


(d) sign the form after you are satisfied that all particulars in the form are in order;


(e) keep the copy of the registration form that is given to you as proof of registration. It can be used as evidence of your registration in the event that your name does not appear in the draft of the Supplementary Roll when it is exhibited in which case you can submit a claim.

For further information, visit Website of the Election Commision (Malaysia)

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