The EC said 18 of the polling centres will remain open until 6pm, but one – at SK Toh Tandewa Sakti – will close at 4pm.

The total turnout in the constituency for the state polls which took place during the 15th general election in November 2022 was 74.7%.

EC chairman Ramlan Harun said though the voter turnout was low, he remains optimistic that the percentage will reach the target of 70%.

Earlier, Ramlan had visited the polling centre at SMK Bidor in Tapah, Bernama reported.

There are 31,863 registered voters in Ayer Kuning. Of the  number, 31,281 are eligible to vote today while 582 voters, comprising police personnel and their spouses, took part in the early voting held last Tuesday.

The Ayer Kuning by-election was called following the death of its incumbent, Ishsam Shahruddin, on Feb 22 from a heart attack.

It involves a three-cornered contest among Barisan Nasional candidate Yusri Bakir, Perikatan Nasional candidate Abd Muhaimin Malek and Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s KS Bawani.

According to the EC, the election results are expected to be announced as early as 9pm.