The polling date for GE13 is on 5 May

The Election Commission (EC) has set May 5, 2013 as the polling day for the 13th General Elections (GE) and April 20 for nomination day.

The announcement was made by the Election Commission Chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof in Putrajaya.

Abdul Aziz has also set the postal voting day on April 30.

When making the announcement, Abdul Aziz said that the writ of election will be issued tomorrow while the election notice will be issued this Friday.

“To conduct this election, EC will use 8,789 polling centers that have a total of 26,219 polling stations (channels).

“For advanced voting, a total of 544 polling centres with 882 polling stations will be opened,” he said adding that the EC will spend RM400 million to conduct this GE.

Abdul Aziz also said that the electoral roll for the GE has the names of 13,268,002 voters including 12,992,661 normal voters, 161,251 soldiers and their partners, 111,136 police and general police movement (PGA) partners and 2,954 overseas voters.

"To ensure the implementation of the 13th general election goes smoothly, we would like to request that all parties abide by laws and regulations as well as police’s instructions," he said.

Meanwhile, Abdul Aziz said the GE will be the best and the most peaceful election if everyone abides by the law.

In making this assurance, he refuted claims by certain quarters who said this will be the dirtiest GE.

"I disagree that this will be the dirtiest GE. We have introduced so many improvements and changes.

"We have planned carefully. We hope this will be the best election. If it becomes dirty here and there, it is not because of EC.

"Political parties and supporters must respect the law and follow guidelines and code of ethics. If they follow, this will be the most peaceful election in Malaysia," he said.