Sarawak election: Early voting process running smoothly

Early voting for the 11th Sarawak state election is running smoothly at the 79 voting centres around the state.

The process, which began at 8am, involved 24,604 voters made up of members of the security forces and their spouses.

Thirty-three of the 79 voting centres will close at 2pm and the rest at 5pm.

Counting of the ballots will commence from 4pm on polling day on May 7.

Among those spotted making their rounds to observe the process today was Election Commission (EC) chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Hashim Abdullah.

#SarawakMemilih Pengerusi SPR, DS Hashim Abdullah memantau proses pengundian awal @501Awani pic.twitter.com/KizcbuzNPg
— Asyraf Hasnan (@HaritsKarev) May 3, 2016

Pengerusi SPR, DS Hashim Abdullah meninjau Pusat Pengundian Awal Kem Penrissen @501Awani pic.twitter.com/nO4tSCoGTo
— Asyraf Hasnan (@HaritsKarev) May 3, 2016

Panglima T.Darat TS Raja Mohamed Affandi turut meninjau proses pengundian awal di Kem Penrissen @501Awani pic.twitter.com/lX7tVjMXDF
— Asyraf Hasnan (@HaritsKarev) May 3, 2016

As at 10am, the polling process was reportedly without hiccups.

Proses pengundian awal di IPK Kuching utk PRn Sarawak @501Awani pic.twitter.com/Mg8XZBUqgk
— Hafiz Marzukhi (@hafizmarzukhi) May 3, 2016

Panglima Medan Timur T.Darat L.Jen Datuk Mohd Zaki Mokhtar individu pertama mengundi di Kem Penrissen @501Awani pic.twitter.com/vK1BlGYpLp
— Asyraf Hasnan (@HaritsKarev) May 3, 2016

This Saturday, a total of 1,138,650 eligible voters were expected to cast their votes.

The 11th Sarawak election would see 82 state seats being contested, including 11 new ones.

On nomination day last April 25, Barisan Nasional had won two seats which went uncontested – Abdul Rahman Ismail for Bukit Kota and Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan for Bukit Sari.