PUTRAJAYA: The Election Commission (EC) reckons the automatic voter registration system will only be ready in two years time.
Election Commission (EC) deputy chairman Dr Azmi Sharom in a Bernama report today said the two-year period would also be necessary as the EC needed to prepare for the millions of additional voters, ensure sufficient polling centres and channels, as well as buy more ballot boxes and train more EC officials.
“As it is, those aged 18 now will have to wait a little longer to register for voting.
The Dewan Rakyat had in July passed the Bill to amend the Federal Constitution to lower the voting age to 18.
The turnout in the next general election is expected to reach over 22 million, compared with 14.9 million in the last general election in 2018, he added.
In addition to lowering the voting age from 21 to 18, the amendments also sought to lower the eligible age of electoral candidates to 18, and to enable automatic registration of voters by the Election Commission.