Hisomuddin Bakar, executive director of Ilham Centre, said enthusiasm for voting diminishes when political parties fail to take up local issues that matter to voters.

“National issues are often overly emphasised by speakers or campaigners, overshadowing the real concerns specific to each parliamentary or state assembly constituency,” he told FMT.

The declining voter interest, particularly among non-Malays, also arose from the fact that the outcomes of by-elections typically do not alter the status quo in the state or federal government.

“For instance, the Chinese voters typically focus more on the significance of state or federal power rather than on changing representatives that do not alter the status quo,” he said, adding that Malay voters generally view elections as celebratory, and consistently record higher turnout rates.

“If it concerns their interest, we will see a higher percentage (of Chinese and Indian voters), as was the case in Kuala Kubu Bharu. If not, the turnout can be low, as in Sungai Bakap and Mahkota.”

He added that the lack of engaging issues from political parties makes it challenging for the media to report on and elevate key matters, ultimately failing to motivate voters from outside the area who have to contend with travel costs and other factors.

Make voting compulsory?

Hisomuddin said that mandatory voting is not a priority, as elections should be based on voters’ awareness and understanding of the democratic process. “If we force them, they might make uninformed voting choices, leading to leaders being chosen out of compulsion rather than by merit,” he said.

He proposed that the Election Commission consider adopting strategies such as candidate debates, as carried out by Indonesia’s General Election Commission.

“The election management body should go beyond determining the candidate nomination dates, campaign periods, and polling days,” he said.

Absentee voters

Voter rights advocate Tharma Pillai, co-founder of the Undi18 movement, said mandatory voting should come about only after significant electoral reforms, including a fixed-term Parliament, are implemented.

However, he said the government can explore absentee voting options, similar to those in the United States, for those living outside their home constituencies.

“This can help address the decline in voter turnout, which may be driven by economic factors, particularly among young voters or those residing or working outside their voting districts,” he said, adding that these voters face travel and childcare costs.