KUCHING: The Election Commission (EC) expects a turnout of 65% for the Jepak by-election this Saturday (Nov 4).
EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Salleh said this was based on the previous turnout of 62% in the 2021 Sarawak state election.
"We hope voters in Jepak will turn out on Nov 4 to cast their ballots," he told reporters after inspecting preparations at the Bintulu Civic Centre on Thursday (Nov 2).
Abdul Ghani said 14 polling stations would be used for the by-election, involving about 40 voting streams in total.
He said polling would open at 7.30am and close at 5.30pm, with three stations closing earlier at 4pm.
"We expect to announce the result by 9pm as the furthest polling station is about one hour away from the tallying centre at the Civic Centre," he said.
On the campaign, Abdul Ghani said it was proceeding smoothly with no complaints received to date.
"What's interesting in Sarawak is that all the parties are campaigning in a civil manner.
"I congratulate the people of Jepak for campaigning courteously and in a family spirit," he added.
The Jepak by-election was called following the death of its assemblyman Datuk Talib Zulpilip from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) on Sept 15.
It is seeing a three-cornered fight between GPS' Iskandar Turkee, Stevenson Joseph Sumbang from Parti Bumi Kenyalang and Chieng Lea Phing from Sarawak People's Aspiration Party.
Jepak has 22,804 voters.
