The 13th General Election is definitely one of the top topics this year, and we foresee an increase in the number of voters both in the country and those casting their ballots at Malaysian embassies overseas. On social media, ‘GE13’ has been trending on Twitter and Facebook posts related to the upcoming elections have outnumbered any other discussions for the past week.
Many of us here at the Lipstiq.com office will be first-time voters, so we’ve compiled a few tips and guidelines for you to remember when you head to your polling station on Sunday.
1) Remember to bring your original IC to your designated polling station (check http://daftarj.spr.gov.my/ if you don’t know where it is). All polling stations are opened from 8am to 5pm.
2) Go as early as possible to avoid a long queue. You should also get there early so your IC number will be taken off the electoral list. This means that no one can misuse your name and IC number.
3) Girls, remember to take off your nail polish! They will not put the indelible ink on your finger with any nail polish.
4) Do not wear any clothes or carry any objects that declare your support for a specific political party. You can be disqualified and will not be able to vote.
Upon entering the polling station:
1) Elections clerk 1 will take down your name and IC number and cross it out of the electoral list. He/she will also check your hands for any marks or stains.
2) Elections clerk 2 will then paint your finger with the indelible ink.
3) Proceed to Elections clerk 3 – remember to be careful with your finger that has been marked with the ink, as the third clerk will hand you your ballot paper. Do not stain your ballot paper! You must also check the paper for any stains or marks – not even a tiny dot is supposed to be there when you first get it.
4) You can demand for a new ballot paper when you’re still at the Elections clerks’ table if you notice any stains or marks. The election clerks are also not allowed to write down any number beside your name on the electoral list, nor are they allowed to announce your ballot paper serial number.
5) After making sure that your ballot paper is clean, proceed to the voting booth. Mark X next to the name of your chosen candidate. Be careful not to mark outside the box, or else your vote will be spoilt. You can only change your ballot paper once after entering the voting booth.
6) Fold your ballot paper in half, move to the ballot box and put your ballot papers in the right boxes (parliament or negeri).
Do your job as a citizen of Malaysia, and vote for the best for our country! Feel free to share your voting experiences with us on Twitter or Facebook.
