Young and first time Johor voters eager to do their part
SIMPANG RENGGAM – First-time voters empowered by the implementation of Und18 and automatic voter registration (AVR) are coming out in droves to exercise their electoral rights in the 15th Johor state election.
This includes voters, young and old, who had never taken the opportunity to register to vote before AVR, and now are ecstatic to be part of the electoral process.
For V.Suganti, 32, who is voting for the first time in her life, said she and her sister V.Tulasiga, 33, is taking this opportunity to do their part for their community.
“We felt that we need to be a part of the process and do our part. It is important this time around and we don’t want to miss out,’’ said Suganti said when met outside SJKC Tuan Poon, here.
Suganti said the entire process was a breeze and she is looking forward to doing her part again in the coming state or federal polls.
The voting centre is under the Machap constituency and shares a direct electoral border with Layang Layang, where the latter district’s nearest voting centre is Sekolah Kebangsaan Simpang Renggam located only less than 1km away.
Another first-time voter Nor Shafika Jazlan, 26, said she was surprised the entire process took no more than five minutes.
Nor Shafika said that she had not registered to vote prior to AVR as she didn't know how to do so.
“Before this, I didn’t know how to even register. Now that everything is automatic, I just checked on the website and go to the voting centre. It is very simple.
But when asked whether she notice the presence of youth voters, those between the ages of 18 and 21, when casting her ballot today, Nor Shafika joked that there weren't too many around as many do not wake up before noon.
“I didn't notice a lot of young voters but I think that’s because it is still before noon. Many of them aren’t awake yet,’’ she said while laughing when met at SKJC Tuan Poon earlier today.
Nor Shafika was accompanying her sister Nor Aina Jailan, 21, who is casting her ballot for the first time today as well.
Nor Aina simply stated that she was glad to do her part and found the entire process to be hassle-free.
“It was so quick as there weren’t that many people in my voting lane,’’ she said.
For sisters Nor Fazira Mohd Sani, 28,Khairul Nisa Mohd Sani, 21, Khairul Anisa Mohd Sani, 19, all three had arrived early at Sekolah Kebangsaan Simpang Renggam to cast their vote for the first time.
Nor Fazira said she was bringing along her sisters to support them in the process despite she had never voted in any previous elections.
“This is my first time too but I am also here to support my sisters. I still need to drive them to the voting centre anyway so I can't escape, “ she said in jest to Sinar Daily.
In this state election, some 2.59 million Johoreans are expected to vote.
Out of some 750,000 new voters included in the electoral roll under AVR, some 175,000 are voters between the age of 18 to 21.
All 1,021 voting centres are open from 8am to 6pm today.
