Don't demand for random ballot, voters told

Voters should not be demanding for a random ballot paper as that could lead to ‘havoc’ during polling day on May 5.

This was the advice by the Election Commission (EC), which said that the issue of secrecy does not arise since a change in 2004.

“We will not submit to the demands of the voters if they start asking for random ballots. We are telling the public to follow the procedures as . Since the 11th election, there was a linkage between the electoral roll and ballot papers, but not anymore,” a EC official told Astro Awani.

The current serial numbers on ballot papers, said the officer, was solely for counting purposes.

The issue was recently brought up by former Transparency International-Malaysia president and ex-DAP leader Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim, when he alleged that the Opposition was attempting to ‘create chaos on polling day’.

He had pointed to a campaign by electoral observation movement, Tindak Malaysia, who had been urging voters through training workshops to ask for randomisation of ballot, and that it was a ploy to delay voting.

However, Tindak Malaysia responded by saying that it has already stopped advising voters to request for a random ballot, but stressed that the movement still believed that in principle, it should be done.

“This was a proposal we made late 2011 to the parliamentary select committee on electoral reform. This was something we felt it’s necessary to give voter confidence that voter secrecy is being maintained,” said Tindak Malaysia founder PY Wong, adding that the group does not understand why the EC objects to it.

“However, we have stopped advising people to demand for it as several NGOs raised fears that this could disrupt polling process.

“But at the same time we stress that if randomisation is being practiced in the polling station, it means that the returning officer is being fair to you and they respect the right to secrecy,” said Wong, adding that secrecy is a fundamental right in free and fair elections.

However, electoral reform group Bersih 2.0 said that its stand was clear that voters should not request or demand for a random ballot.

Bersih steering committee member Maria Chin Abdullah said that demanding for a random ballot paper could deny other people the right to vote as well as other complications.

“We don’t think there is a need for randomisation as the EC has already resolved this. There is no numbers to link the vote to the name, your vote is secret.

“Don’t demand for randomisation, it might delay the whole process. Just come out and vote,” said Maria.

Meanwhile, accredited election observers PEMANTAU said that the group, at this point does not have a stand on the issue.

Representing one of the NGOs which forms Pemantau, Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) ceo Wan Saiful Wan Jan said that the job now was to "observe and to record if it happens."