I'm now a polling agent plus a counting agent for the coming 12th General Election ("GE12"). Just want to be a part of my nation's general election and get to experience the election fever. In each polling place, normally a school or educational institution, various classrooms are being used. And in each respective classroom, there would be a number of people in it, monitoring and ensuring the polling goes on smoothly.
There would be a Election Commission clerk/officer who would check your identity card against a name list. Upon checking, a voter would be given a ballot paper and move on to the ballot box. Meanwhile, me being a polling agent would need to cross check this voter's name on my copy of name list. I'll be seated together with the polling agent from ........ ???? Barisan Nasional of course. I'm the polling agent representing DAP for Seputeh parliamentary area. Another person in the room would be the Election Commission's Returning Officer who would have the last say in any disputes (wow, there are many kinds of objections/disputes that I could raise up with the Returning Offier if I suspect anything on a particular voter from the point of handing over the identity card till the exit by the voter).
Our head told us that we will be seated with BN's representative who would be doing the same thing as me. Our enemy? hehehehhehehehehe...... he said you better be friendly with the other rep as that would be the person that you would be facing the whole day, from the start of polling time till closing - meaning 8am to 5pm.
Moreover, if you need to go to the toilet, you would require the other rep to inform you which voter's name had been called so that you could cross out that name too. Our head said you should do otherwise when the other rep needs to go to the toilet. Don't lah say "Sorry, who asked you to go to toilet?" and left the other rep stranded.......... hahahahaha. We are supposed to be professional polling agent so need to act as one too even though it's from another political party.
Interesting part would be the counting time. We need to monitor whether there were any spoilt votes or properly done votes. There would be some funny ballot papers where various markings would be marked, crossed, ticked, with numbers, names & other words may appear. And we really laughed over those samples.
Need to report at a school in Overseas Union Garden (forgotten the name but I knew which school they were referring to). Can't get a place at my place of stay/voting place as I registered quite late. Never mind, it's only about 5 minutes or so from my area. A friend of mine, a polling agent too, would be on morning duty only and would replace me temporary so that I could go back to vote first before returning to resume my duty.
Would be a long day but a day where we need to open our ears and eyes realy wide. Can't afford not to pay attention.
As for all Malaysians, happy voting and vote wisely!
Another blogger, that blogs for positive change, put this picture to show where the polling agents would be seated.Tags: Polling Agent, Counting Agent, Election Commission, Overseas Union Garden, 12th General Election, Barisan Nasional, DAP
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