The amazing race for democracy: rushing ballots home from all over the world

in this last episode before polling day on November 19, we’re hearing from the UNDI18 movement co-founder Tharma Pillai, who’s coordinating the huge global effort to get about 50,000 postal ballots back to Malaysia and sorted and counted in time, at often far-flung counting centres across the nation. All of this relying on the goodwill and energy of Malaysian volunteers urgently recruited for an intense few days.

There’s been a seven-fold jump in overseas Malaysians voting this GE15, compared with the first time this postal voting was widespread back in 2018’s elections – which saw a historic change of government.

With about 6 million new and mostly young voters automatically registered – making up nearly a quarter of all voters this time – there’s much uncertainty about how this can upset predictions of an already tight race to power for the rival coalitions. When up to a third of Malaysia’s parliamentary seats are won on very slim margins, it’s no surprise everyone’s nervous about election day and why every vote will count.

We also hear from Zhi, enthusiastic first-time voter and one of the organisers in the global collection effort abroad to rush Malaysian ballots home in time,

Do get in touch about the series with comments, tips and predictions at ge15malaysia@pm.me