KUALA LUMPUR, June 1 — Polls reform watchdog Bersih wants the Election Commission (EC) to expedite the registration process for eligible voters to post their ballots in the coming six state elections, which is anticipated to take place in the second half of 2023.

The government mandates for Kedah, Kelantan, Penang, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, and Terengganu are expiring soon and all six must hold elections this year.

"The EC need not wait until all the states have dissolved their respective state assemblies before opening up applications for postal voting, especially for category 1B voters who are Malaysian citizens living abroad such as students and those working abroad.

"It should be noted that the number of category 1B postal voters increased by 600 per cent, from 7,979 in General Election (GE) 14 to 48,109 in GE15,” Bersih said in a statement today.

Bersih added that by opening the application process for postal voting at an earlier stage, more voters will have sufficient time to apply, potentially increasing voter turnout for the state elections.

"The EC must remember that it is their constitutional responsibility to ensure that every citizen who is eligible to vote is given reasonable voting access to exercise their responsibility as citizens of Malaysia,” it said.

Bersih also proposed that category 1C postal voting should be extended to encompass health and safety personnel employed in the private sector, such as those working in private hospitals who will be on duty during polling day.

During GE15, Bersih received numerous complaints regarding election workers, including clerks and presiding officers at polling stations, who were unable to vote by post despite being registered as postal voters due to their duty-bound responsibilities.

"Such incidents should not be repeated in the upcoming state elections,” it said.