The new method of polling by dipping the index finger into the indelible ink, which was implemented for the first time in the by-election for the Kuala Besut state seat, speeded up the voting process today.

Election Commission (EC) Deputy Chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar, who visited the polling centres in Kuala Besut, here said the new method was found to be effective in speeding up the voting process.

"The voting process in now faster because a book containing 50 ballot papers can be completed within 40 minutes, which is less than one minute per voter," he told reporters after visiting the polling station at the Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Alor Peroi, here.

He later visited the polling centres at SK Kampung Nangka, SK Kampung Baharu and SK Bukit Puteri.

Wan Ahmad said the smooth running of the dipping process was also due to the efficiency of the EC staff who were now more careful in handling the ink.

"The voters also understand how the dipping process is done as a result of the announcements made earlier," he said.

On July 18, a voting simulation process and the manner how the index finger is dipped into the indelible ink was carried out at the Besut District Office, here.