Kuala lumpur: Early polling centres for the 16th Negeri Sembilan state election, which open at 8 am on July 28, will be closed in stages between noon and 5 pm.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, a Federal Government Gazette dated July 23 regarding the polling hours for the state election indicates that 18 out of 38 early polling centres will close at 12 pm. These closures include one centre each in the constituencies of Chennah, Pertang, Jeram Padang, Lenggeng, Nilai, Seri Menanti, Johol, Labu, Rahang, Rantau, Kota, Chuah, Lukut, Bagan Pinang, Linggi, Gemas, and Gemencheh. These centres are located at district police headquarters, police stations, and the 508th Army Reserve Regiment at Jalan Rasah Camp.

Early polling centres in Bahau and one in Paroi will close at 2 pm, while 18 others will close at 5 pm. The 5 pm closures cover one centre each in Repah, Gemas, Sri Tanjung, Linggi, Rantau, Chembong, Paroi, Rahang, Bukit Kepayang, Pilah, Sikamat, Temiang, Nilai, Serting, Klawang, and Sungai Lui, in addition to two centres in Bagan Pinang.

Early voting will involve 16,884 military personnel and their spouses, along with 5,455 police officers. On polling day, August 1, a total of 395 polling centres will open from 8 am to 6 pm, utilising schools, community halls, colleges, sports complexes, and public halls for the election of new state representatives.

A total of 867,151 regular voters are eligible to cast their ballots in this state election. The Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly was officially dissolved on June 5, with the consent of the Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir. In the 15th Negeri Sembilan state election in 2023, Pakatan Harapan (PH) won 17 of the 36 state seats, followed by Barisan Nasional (BN) with 14, and Perikatan Nasional with five.