PUTRAJAYA, May 9 ― The percentage of voters’ turnout in the morning was very good with 24 per cent out of the total 14,449,200 electors in the 14th general election (GE14) exercising their rights as of 10am.

Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Mohd Hashim Abdullah said based on preliminary reports received, the polling process nationwide also went smoothly and hoped the targeted 85 per cent of voters’ turnout  would be achieved.

"If it is observed, since 8am the turnout at the polling stations is full of voters and I expect the situation will subside a bit by noon.

"It is expected that by 2pm or 3pm until 5 pm, the turnout will pick up again,” he told reporters after casting his vote at Sekolah Kebangsaan Putrajaya Precinct 16 (1), here today.

He also advised voters to go out and vote early due to concerns of anticipated rains in several states in the afternoon.  

Asked on the issue of a voter wearing shorts being denied entry to the polling station that went viral on social media, Mohd Hashim said if such an incident happened, the individual concerned could lodge a report to the police or file an election petition.

"The EC cannot accept such complaints by words of mouth. I observe on the social media many issues being viral but not many are brought to the attention of the police,” he said.

Mohd Hashim said the EC had never set any code of ethics for clothing while voting and it was sufficient for voters to dress modestly.

Commenting on a voter who had put the ballot papers in the wrong ballot boxes, he said the voter did not have to be worried because the ballot papers would still be counted during the counting session  after polling ends at 5pm.

"These are not spoil votes, during the counting, the agent (candidate and party) are there and they will see which ballot papers go to which parliamentary seat or state seat,” he said.

Based on media reports, a voter at Taman Bukit Serdang Community Hall, Seri Kembangan had put a ballot paper for the parliamentary seat in the ballot box for the state seat and vice versa. ― Bernama