MEMBAKUT: About 70 per cent of voters have cast their ballots in the Kimanis parliamentary by-election as of 3pm.
This means the Election Commission (EC) managed to hit its target of a 70 per cent turnout two hours before polling centres close at 5pm.
The by-election sees Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) Datuk Karim Bujang and Barisan Nasional (BN) Datuk Mohamad Alamin vying for the Kimanis parliamentary seat.
Both candidates exercised their voting rights at 9am, with Karim casting his vote at SK Kimanis and Mohamad at SK Our Lady Fatima.
The EC is scheduled to start counting ballots at 7pm at Dewan Datuk Seri Mohd Dun Banir in Beaufort.
The weather has been good all morning, but the Meteorological Department forecasts rain to occur in several areas later in the afternoon.
Kimanis, which comprises the state constituencies of Bongawan and Membakut, has 29,664 voters, comprising 29,654 regular voters, nine early voters and one overseas absentee voter.
The early voting on Jan 14 saw eight electorates turned up to vote at the Membakut Police Station.