EC: Melaka polls: Voter turnout hits 31pct, first results expected by 9.30pm

MELAKA: Voter turnout in the Melaka election reached 31.07 per cent as of 11.25am today, with the Election Commission (EC) expressing confidence that overall turnout would meet its target of 70 to 75 per cent.

EC chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun said the first official results were expected to be announced by 9.30pm, with the overall results likely to be finalised before midnight.

He said all 240 polling centres across the state's 28 constituencies had opened smoothly at 8am and would close at 6pm.

"Votes will be counted at the respective polling centres before being sent to the official tallying centres in each constituency, and then to the main secretariat at Wisma Persekutuan here," he told reporters at a press conference at SJK(C) Malim in Kesidang.

Ramlan said the results could only be officially declared after all ballot boxes had arrived safely at the tallying centres and completed the required verification procedures.

He also called on voters to cast their ballots early, citing forecasts of rain in the afternoon.

"We are concerned about weather forecasts predicting rain this afternoon.

"As such, we strongly encourage all voters to come out early," he said.

A total of 79 candidates are contesting 28 state seats, with 15 seats needed to secure a simple majority.

More than 680,000 voters are eligible to cast their ballots in the election, which sees incumbent Barisan Nasional defending its mandate against Pakatan Harapan, Perikatan Nasional, Bersatu, Parti Bersama Malaysia, Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra) and three independent candidates.