The Ayer Kuning by-election has commenced with all 19 polling centres open since 8am.
The Election Commission (EC) said 18 of the polling centres will remain open until 6pm, but one, at Sekolah Kebangsaan Toh Tandewa Sakti, will close at 4pm, Bernama reported.
A total of 31,281 voters are eligible to cast their ballots today to elect a new assemblyman for the state constituency in Perak.
Last Tuesday, over 90% of the 582 police officers and their spouses fulfilled their responsibilities during the early voting process for the by-election.
Vote counting will take place at the official tallying centre at Dewan Merdeka, in Tapah, with the official results expected around 9pm tonight.
The Ayer Kuning by-election sees a three-cornered fight among Barisan Nasional’s Yusri Bakir of Umno, Perikatan Nasional’s Abd Muhaimin Malek of PAS, and Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s KS Bawani.
All three candidates are also registered to vote in the constituency, with Yusri set to cast his vote at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Lesong, Muhaimin at SK Ayer Kuning, and Bawani at Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina Pheng Lok.
The by-election was called following the death on Feb 22 of Umno assemblyman Ishsam Shahruddin, who had won the seat in the last general election (GE15) with a 2,213-vote majority in a five-cornered contest.
