Chini by-election: 838 personnel to ensure smooth polling day tomorrow

A total of 838 personnel will be on duty during the Chini state seat by-election tomorrow to ensure the polling process runs smoothly in accordance with the new normal.

Election Commission (EC) deputy chairman Dr Azmi Sharom said preparations have been made to ensure the by-election process tomorrow runs smoothly, with a few final checks carried out today.

He said the ballot boxes have been thoroughly checked to ensure that the polling process tomorrow involving 65 lanes at 13 polling centres is smooth.

"When they checked the ballot boxes, the heads of polling centres and clerks also checked all the items provided by the EC, including the stationery, election ink and relevant forms.

"This includes the hand sanitiser, masks, brush to apply ink on the fingers, and rubber gloves for the 20,816 ordinary voters who will be voting tomorrow," he told reporters after looking at the final preparations by EC staff at the Vote Counting Centre for the Chini state seat by-election at the National Youth Skills Training Institute (IKBN) in Pekan, near here today.

In total, there are 66 lanes in 14 polling centres for the Chini by-election including for the early voting process on June 30 which involved 18 police personnel.

Azmi also reminded voters to cast their votes early 'during the times encouraged for voting' as stated on the EC voter's cards so as to avoid crowding.

The information on these cards are meant to ensure social distancing so that the people can exercise their right to vote.

"We still hope that 70 per cent of voters here will cast their votes tomorrow. We will wait and see what happens tomorrow," he said, while advising voters to check their polling centres and lanes for a smoother process tomorrow.

Azmi also advised voters to bring their own masks to the polling centres tomorrow as the country was still not free of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, he said, the EC also provided masks for people who do not have them, and he urged voters to comply with the standard operating procedure (SOP).

-- BERNAMA