5.8 million aged 18 and above now listed as new voters

Some 5.8 million prospective voters aged 18 and above have until the end of the month to verify their details with the Election Commission (EC) through the automatic voter pre-registration check (SPPA).

This means that those aged 18 and above will be able to vote for the first time in any upcoming election, including the state election in Melaka which must be held by early December.

This comes more than a month after the Kuching High Court ordered the EC and the government to implement Undi 18 by Dec 31, following an application brought by five youths seeking the immediate enforcement of a constitutional amendment to lower the minimum voting age from 21 to 18.

Putrajaya has decided not to appeal the decision.

The voting age for Malaysians was lowered from 21 to 18 after the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2019 was passed unanimously in a historic show of unity by MPs in the Dewan Rakyat on July 16, 2019.

The EC had previously said the move could not be implemented due to various constraints and issues.

Two ways to check

According to the EC website, checks can be done through two methods:

1. Through the MySPR SPAA app at https://mysprsppa.spr.gov.my; or

2. By visiting any of 604 SPPA checkpoints nationwide and scanning the QR code for the parliamentary constituency in question.

The EC said those who no longer live at the address given should update their MyKad details at the National Registration Department by Oct 31.

For inquiries or further information on the SPPA, members of the public can contact their state election office or the EC hotline at 03-8892 7018.