EC meeting today to set dates for Melaka polls

MELAKA: The Election Commission (EC) will hold a special meeting today to fix the key dates for the 16th Melaka state election.

The meeting will be chaired by EC chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun, followed by a press conference scheduled at 11.30am to announce the decisions.

Among the matters to be determined are the election writ date, nomination day, early voting day and polling day, as well as the electoral roll.

The election arrangements are also expected to include the use of nomination centres and polling centres, as well as preparations for election personnel to ensure the voting process runs smoothly.

The dissolution of the state assembly on Sept 23 paved the way for an election to be held within 60 days.

With 28 seats up for contest, the state election will not only determine who forms the state government but will also be an important test of the actual strength of political blocs following major changes to the national political landscape since the 2021 Melaka state election.

In terms of voter numbers, Melaka is now vastly different from the state election five years ago.

As at April 20, 2026, the number of registered voters in Melaka stood at 683,543, an increase of 188,348, or about 38 per cent, from the 495,195 voters in the 2021 state election.

The addition of nearly 190,000 voters means this state election has a different demographic dimension.

New voters, including those automatically registered following the implementation of Undi18, could be a determining factor, particularly in seats previously won by narrow majorities.

The figure could also change further when the EC finalises the electoral roll.

The August 2026 Supplementary Electoral Roll alone contains 43,309 citizens aged 18 and above who were automatically registered as new voters, in addition to 34,411 voters who changed their constituencies and 2,728 who changed their voter category or status.

It will not only determine the overall number of voters but also provide a clearer picture of the size of the electoral field each party will face across the 28 state constituencies.

In the 2021 polls, BN won 21 state seats, while five were won by Pakatan Harapan (PH) and two by Perikatan Nasional (PN).