Johor election: 26.43% turnout by 11 AM

Voter turnout for the Johor state election has reached 26.43% as of 11 AM, with 709,092 out of over two million registered voters having cast their ballots since polls opened at 8 AM. This figure represents a notable increase compared to the 2022 Johor state election, which saw only 21.33% turnout by the same hour.

The Election Commission (SPR) reported that three constituencies – Tanjung Surat, Rengit, and Semarang – have recorded the highest voter participation rates so far. Conversely, the constituencies of Maharani, Bentayan, and Penggaram are showing the lowest turnout.

Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun, the Chairman of the SPR, had previously expressed optimism, anticipating a 70% overall turnout, which would equate to approximately 1.8 million voters participating in the 16th Johor state election. He attributed this expected increase to a heightened public interest in engaging with the democratic process in Johor.

The higher turnout in the early hours of polling suggests a potentially more engaged electorate this year, possibly driven by increased public interest in the state's political landscape and the issues at stake in this election.