MELAKA: The 16th Melaka election officially begins today, with the nomination process taking place simultaneously at 28 nomination centres across the state from 9am.
Prospective candidates have until 10am to submit their nomination papers to the election returning officers, before the list of eligible candidates is officially announced.
Following the announcement, the contest for the people’s mandate will enter a 14-day campaigning period, which runs until 11.59pm on Nov 13, as stipulated by the Election Commission (EC).
The EC has set Nov 14 as polling day for the Melaka election, with early voting scheduled for Nov 10.
It said 189 nomination forms had been purchased as of Thursday night, with 45 prospective candidates having paid their deposits.
EC statistics show that 687,697 people are eligible to vote in the state election, including 675,166 ordinary voters, 9,769 members of the armed forces and their spouses, and 2,762 police personnel.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department has forecast clear skies across the state in the morning, setting the scene for nomination day.
The Melaka State Legislative Assembly was officially dissolved with effect from Sept 23, following the consent of Melaka Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Mohd Ali Rustam.
In the 2021 Melaka election, Barisan Nasional secured 21 of the 28 seats, allowing it to form the state government, while Pakatan Harapan won five seats and Perikatan Nasional took two.