THE federal constitution has to be amended to lower the voting age to 18 and to introduce automatic voters registration, said Election Commission chairman Azhar Azizan Harun.
 
“To lower the voting age to 18, an amendment has to be made to the federal constitution,” he told reporters in the Parliament lobby.

“There has to be an amendment (because) qualification to be an MP falls under the federal constitution.”

On whether the proposal for younger voters suited the Malaysian political landscape, he said he is not in the position to answer that as he must stay neutral.

The question is best left to politicians to answer, he said.

On automatic voter registration, Azhar said that will require amendments to the constitution as well as the Elections Regulations.

While parliamentary approval is not necessary to amend the Election Regulations, the proposal still needs to be presented to the House.

Eligible voters are currently required to register to vote.

Azhar said the EC would remain focused on operational and electoral reform. – July 4, 2019.