BN faces challenge of ‘Undi18’, automatic voter registration, says Melaka CM

The Barisan Nasional (BN) chief minister of Melaka, Ab Rauf Yusoh, has expressed concerns that the automatic voter registration system and the eligibility of young voters under Undi18 could pose a challenge for the coalition in the upcoming state polls. This new system, which was implemented on December 15, 2021, just one month after the last Melaka state election, automatically registers eligible citizens, including those aged 18 to 20 and those who have never voted before.

During the launch of the BN election machinery in Alor Gajah, Ab Rauf Yusoh stated that the coalition must strengthen its machinery and change its strategy to engage these new voters, moving beyond its reliance on traditional methods. He acknowledged that the introduction of the Undi18 and automatic voter registration system altered the dynamics of voter engagement, as it made it difficult for the party to gauge the potential support it would receive in different areas.

Ab Rauf Yusoh's comments come in the wake of the BN's loss in the Alor Gajah parliamentary seat during the general election (GE15) in November 2022. He attributes this defeat to the party's inability to gather information about the new voters and their locations. Despite securing a majority in the 2021 state polls, winning 21 out of the 28 contested seats, the BN lost all six parliamentary seats in GE15, marking a significant setback for the coalition.

The Elections Commission has set November 14, 2023, as the polling day for the Melaka state elections, with nominations to be submitted on October 31, and early voting scheduled for November 10.