KOTA KINABALU: The Election Commission (EC) is targeting a 70 per cent turn out of the 1,088,711 voters registered to cast their ballots in the state election, tomorrow.
The turn-out percentage is five per cent lower from the commission's initial target after taking into account the Covid-19 pandemic and uncertain weather conditions.
"We initially targeted 75 per cent turn out. If we look at the early voting trend, the percentage of turn out exceeded our target, which is 76 per cent.
"Looking at the current situation, we are looking at perhaps 70 per cent turn out," said EC chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh.
Tomorrow, 741 polling centres and 2,540 channels are set to open for the polling process.
EC is deploying 28,656 staff to ensure a smooth polling process.
Abdul Ghani said most polling centres would start to open at 7.30am and close at 5pm, noting that centres with less voters could close at 2pm the earliest.
"Usually, there will not be a lot of voters in the interiors. In areas with less voters, the polling process will usually take two to three hours.
"Vote counting can be carried out immediately, but the result will only be counted once the ballot boxes reach the tallying centre with the form signed by the Returning Officer," he said.
Throughout the polling process, EC reminded voters against wearing any T-shirt, cap and material bearing any political party symbols, tagline or candidate photo that would influence support towards any political agenda.