KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 — The Pakatan Harapan-led Penang government today declared November 18 a special state holiday.

The date is the eve of polling day for the 15th general election.

"This special state holiday is to encourage and make it easier for Penangites to fulfil their duty as voters,” Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said in a brief statement.

Penang’s holiday declaration comes on the heels of two other states: Selangor and Negri Sembilan.

A total of 21,173,638 Malaysians will go to the polls on November 19, while 265,531 who are registered as early voters will be able to send in their ballots by post this Saturday.

This is the first general election that Malaysians aged 18 onwards will be able to vote in, following the gazettement of two provisions to amend the Federal Constitution last year — the first lowered the voting age from 21, and the second was the automatic registration of Malaysians who are of age as voters.