EC: Jumbo-sized ballot paper not confusing

The Election Commission today refuted claims made by PKR that the new jumbo-sized ballot paper for Bukit Selambau was confusing because it does not contain the candidates' numbers.

Deputy EC chairperson Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said the commission had acted within the law by printing the ballot paper without the candidates' numbers.

He also said that the new format ballot paper for Bukit Selambau was necessary due to the number of candidates contesting - a historic 15 in all.

He urged PKR to understand the country's election laws and to stop making claims that the new-look ballot paper can confuse the people.

"I like to remind that since the first general election, the candidates' numbers were never printed on the ballot paper.

"It only contains the candidates' names and symbols," he told reporters at Sungai Petani today.

Under the Election Act, EC only has to print three boxes on the ballot paper, which are assigned for the names of candidates, their symbols and for voters to insert their choice with a 'cross'.

Inconsistent with past elections

Wan Ahmad said the candidates' numbers were just for listing purposes and not meant for printing on the ballot paper.

PKR information chief Tian Chua had earlier claimed that the ballot paper for Bukit Selambau was confusing as the candidates' numbers were not printed and this was inconsistent with past elections.

He threatened to take the matter to court over the ballot paper.

The new format of the ballot paper causes a problem for most of the candidates as they have been canvassing for votes by informing them of their candidate's number.

Even PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim, in his campaign rounds in Bukit Selambau, has been urging the voters to vote for number four.

PKR's S Manikumar has been allocated that number in the candidates' list.

Without the numbers allocated to the candidates on the new format ballot paper, voters will have to remember the names of the candidates or the logos of their respective parties.

This may come as a disadvantage for the 13 independents, whose assigned symbols, unlike the established political parties, may not be so instantly recognisable.