2012 - THE ELECTORAL ROLL ISSUES AND CLARIFICATIONS.pdf

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Issue 6: The EC’s Electoral Roll contains many voters who hold identity cards with the figure "71" Code ‘71’ is the two-digit number stated in the identity card issued to Malaysians born overseas and also given to foreigners granted Malaysian citizenship. As far as the EC is concerned, anyone confirmed to be a Malaysian citizen as evidenced by the identity card issued by the National Registration Department is eligible and is entitled to apply for registration as an elector and to vote during the elections in this country. It is impossible for non-citizens and foreigners to be registered as electors. This is because any application by a citizen who is eligible to register as an elector will have to go through rigorous computerized screening process. These screening procedures are in accordance with the laws. Hence, the issue of the citizenship background does not arise when applying for registration as an elector as long as he has a valid identity card, has attained the age of 21 years and above, as well as fulfilling others criteria stipulated under the Constitution. Issue 7: The Electoral Roll has numerous voters aged 85 years and above, even those who are more than 100 years of age According to EC’s records, there are still many electors in the electoral roll who are 85 years and above. These electors are eligible to vote during the elections including the upcoming 13th general election. Old age is not a criterion that can be used indiscriminately by the EC to delete names of electors from the Main Electoral Roll. Any action to delete the name of a registered elector from the electoral roll can only be done upon specific reasons such as when an elector has passed away subject to verification by the National Registration Department or when the citizenship of the elector has been withdrawn by the Government of Malaysia. Therefore, although the age of an elector may be over 100 years, the existing laws do not allow the EC to delete his name arbitrarily from the electoral roll
on the assumption that he may have died. Therefore, if anyone knows and can prove that one or more relatives are dead, the EC hopes that he would proceed to the National Registration Department to update the records of the deceased. After receiving information on the death of an individual, the National Registration Department will pass on that information to the EC for it to delete the name of the individual from the electoral roll, if he is a registered elector. The EC depends fully on the information provided by the National Registration Department to confirm the death of a citizen to prevent fraud and the likes. Issue 8: The EC’s Electoral Roll has too many postal voters from amongst the wives of the armed forces and the police personnel As provided for under the Election Regulations (Postal Voting) 2003, the wife or husband of the armed forces personnel is entitled to vote by post. According to Regulation 3(1)(a) “any person who has registered as an elector of Parliament or the State under the Election Regulations (Registration of Electors) 2002, and he who is a voter that is not present, shall be entitled to vote as postal voters”. According to the Election Regulations (Postal Voting) 2003, members of the Police Force and the Police General Operations Force including the latter’s spouses are eligible to vote by post. This is clearly stated under sub regulation 3(1)(c) and (f) of the law. Thus, the presence of a large number of postal voters from among the wives of of the Armed Forces and the Police General Operations Force personnel in the electoral roll is a normal phenomenon and should not be a matter of dispute by any party. At the EC, applications for registration as postal voters from these two categories of electors (spouses of the Armed Forces and the Police General Operations Force personnel) is processed carefully to avoid double registration among them wherein the EC ensures that a postal voter’s name does not appear in the list of ordinary voters as well.
Page 2 and 3: THE ELECTORAL ROLL: ISSUES AND CLAR
Page 4 and 5: Select Committee on Improvements to
Page 6 and 7: Issue 4: The EC’s electoral roll
Page 10 and 11: However, following the amendment to
Page 12: who are about to retire to enable t

2012 - THE ELECTORAL ROLL ISSUES AND CLARIFICATIONS.pdf

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