MELAKA, Oct 7 — The Election Commission (EC) today announced November 14 for polling in the 16th Melaka state election, and set the nomination for Oct 31.

EC chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun said early voting had been set for November 10 and the campaign period would run for 14 days.

He said this at a press conference after chairing a special meeting to determine the date for the state election here.

Regarding the Electoral Roll (DPPR) that will be used in the 16th Melaka state election (PRN), Ramlan said that a total of 687,697 voters, consisting of 675,166 ordinary voters, 9,769 military personnel and their spouses, and 2,762 police personnel, are eligible to vote in the state election.

For postal voting matters, applications for both domestic and international categories have been open since Sept 23, and the deadline for postal voting applications for Category 1A, which includes election staff, EC officers, military personnel, and media, is set for Oct 28.

“For Category 1B, which is Malaysian citizens abroad, and 1C, which is for agencies or organisations, the deadline is on Oct 23,” he said.

Commenting further, Ramlan said the EC appointed 28 returning officers and 80 assistant returning officers.

He said that to monitor election campaign activities throughout the official campaigning period, the EC will establish 28 Election Campaign Enforcement Teams (PP-KPR), including representatives from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), local authorities (PBT), and representatives of contesting candidates.

“A total of 28 candidate nomination centres (PPC) and official vote counting centres (PPRU) will be used in this election, while 11,175 personnel will be appointed to manage the process.

“A total of 271 polling centres with 1,263 channels will be opened, involving 31 early voting centres with 50 early voting channels and 240 regular polling centres with 1,213 channels,” he said, adding that the allocation for conducting the Melaka state election is estimated at RM28.45 million.

He said the EC is also offering government agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGO) to be election observers to monitor the Melaka state election process from nomination day until the election results are announced.

“They are allowed to make observations at the PPC, polling centres, counting centres and PPRU, and must comply with all the appointment conditions set by the EC.”

Further information and application forms related to election observers can be obtained from the SPR Portal www.spr.gov.my starting from Oct 7, 2026 (today) and until Oct 21, 2026. — Bernama