JOHOR BARU: The Election Commission (EC) has issued a total of 36,729 postal ballot papers, including 7,814 papers for overseas Malaysians to cast their votes in the Johor election.

       EC secretary Datuk Ikmalrudin Ishak said the 36,729 postal ballot papers were given to those entitled to vote by post as provided under Regulation 3 of the Elections (Postal Voting) Regulations 2003 for the state polls.

       “The postal ballot papers are for 28,421 election officers, EC staff and officers, police officers and personnel, military officers and personnel and media members.

       “This also includes 7,814 postal votes for Malaysians abroad, 118 for nine agencies in the safety and health sector while 376 for overseas absentee voters,” he said in a statement here on Friday (March 4).

       Ikmalrudin added that the issuance of postal ballot papers was made from Tuesday (March 1) to Thursday (March 3) and was carried out by election officers in all 56 state constituencies.

       “The process of issuing postal ballot papers is carried out in the presence of candidate representatives from all parties or individuals contesting,” he said.

       He reminded all postal voters to mark on the ballot paper, complete and correctly fill in the Declaration of Identity form (Form 2) and immediately return it to the managing officer before 5pm on polling day, which falls on March 12.

       Ikmalrudin also urged voters to always maintain the secrecy of their votes by not taking pictures of postal ballot papers and spreading them on social media sites.

       Early voting for the Johor state election has been fixed for Tuesday (March 8).