Malaysians! Election season is coming! Get your arrangements in order so you can be best prepared to vote!

The Malaysian government has just announced that the next general election will be held on the 19th of October 2022. This marks a crucial turning point for the country as your votes will count towards who will be the party in power in the next 5 years. Every vote counts!

Before that, there are several things that you need to take note of for your finance to enable a fruitful voting experience. Here are 6 things that you need to take note of and do to prepare for the general election.

#1: Check Voter Status and Area

First things first, you need to check your voter status and where your voting district is. You can do that by going to MySPRSemak and inputting your IC number to check your status.

The following information will be available:

  1. Personal Information: Name, IC Number, Date of Birth, and Gender
  2. Locality: Basically your address on your IC
  3. Voting District: This is according to your address

It is important to know this information as it will determine whether you need to travel. If your voting district is quite a distance away, you might need to spend on car or flight, bus, or train tickets to get there.

This will also determine other expenses that you need to spend on such as car maintenance, fuel and toll.

#2: Applying for Leave or Informing Your Customers

If you have to travel long-distance to your voting districts, it will be important to apply for leave and inform your customers if you are a business owner.

For people working in jobs that are paid daily or by the hour, this will impact how much they will earn. Take that into consideration on how many days you can afford to take leave when you are travelling.

If you are a business owner, it is very important to inform your customers that your shop could be closed if you do not have enough staff to man them. While this could mean one or two days loss in revenue, this could help safeguard your reputation to your customers.

Finally, for people who needs to take leave, make sure that your available leave balance is adequate to cover for the election and your holidays. You don’t want to be caught in a situation that you do not have enough leave for the remaining of the year.

#3: Getting the Best Transportation Deals for Your Trip Now

This is crucial! Start planning for your journey to and from your voting districts immediately. If you are travelling by car, send your car for service now. You don’t want to have your car break down in the middle of your trip and spending on towing and car repairs that could cost a bomb. Furthermore, plan how much you will be spending on car service, fuel and toll and set them side.

For people travelling by flight, bus, and train, book them now! As the election is only mere weeks away, tickets will be in demand and if you delay buying them, they will be much more expensive closer to the election date.

If you have a lot of mileage points from your travelling beforehand, use them now to get a cheaper deal. You don’t want to be caught making rash decisions last minute that could set your finances back for other commitments.

#4: Book the Best and Most Affordable Accommodation

This will apply mainly for people travelling very long-distance to far-away places, and will need to stay a night or two. As highlighted in point 3, accommodation will mostly likely be in demand also as many people could take this opportunity to travel for relaxation for a bit after voting.

Start looking for the best deals for hotels and AirBnB now. If the place is close to the voting station, you can just walk there. If it is not, you need to plan for your transportation expenses to there also.

Take advantage of your rewards points if you have any and cash them out. Most importantly, you would want to plan now for your accommodation so that you can optimise your spending and finances around it.

#5: Work Together With Friends or Family for Transportation

This is different from the transportation deals in point #3 in that you would need to plan and figure out how to get to the voting station with minimal expenses and hassle.

If you have similar voting stations to your family members and friends, plan with them to get to the place together rather than going individually. If you are car pooling, get one person to sit in the car to save on parking fees. Better yet, you can share a Grab together.

#6: Prepare to Thrive in a Long Queue

As there is probably going to be a long queue, you will most probably be lining outside in the hot sun or pouring rain. Best to prepared for that upfront.

If it is the hot sun, make sure that you have enough water and cooling devices to keep yourself cool. This is important as heat strokes are no joke and could cause you to faint. Buy one of those mini-USB fans for yourself and preferable some 100-plus to keep yourself well-hydrated. An umbrella or a hat could help you feel more comfortable too.

If it is the pouring rain, you will need an umbrella or raincoat. Protecting yourself will keep you happy and healthy.

For those who have elderly family members, do plan ahead to get the appropriate mobility devices for them. A wheelchair or a plastic stool are options to consider.

Conclusion

Voting is one of the basic rights for Malaysians to choose a government that will best serve the rakyat’s interest and well-being. Make your voices and votes heard. Before that, it is important to get your finances ready to vote as you don’t want to be in a position where you are breaking the bank because you didn’t plan beforehand.

 

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