• Doing is an action that a person has taken that results in good or bad outcomes.
• You are the writer of the blog post, which includes the author’s name and their perspective.
• Voting means selecting an option in response to a posed question.
• Define the direction of an object moving into a container that holds those objects.
• According to Copilot’s search, “political” relates to the government or public affairs of a country.
• Elections involve choosing specific party leaders who govern certain regions of the country, as determined by voters.

In recent years, there has been an ongoing shift in political voting in Malaysia, particularly in 2022 when it became mandatory for all citizens to participate in elections. This was significant for me as I had to select representatives for my locality. In the past, especially during the 2018 elections, I tended to overlook voting because I was a student with limited knowledge of the process and had not registered automatically. However, 2022 marked my first experience casting a vote for a political leader. I had to check the voting system, primarily using an app and my ID number, to identify my designated polling place, which turned out to be the primary school I once attended, evoking a sense of nostalgia. Initially, I felt disheartened because some of my family members were assigned to different voting areas, but I ultimately accepted the situation.

The event indicated that it is best to arrive between 10 AM and 12 PM for a safer experience, while 8 AM to 10 AM is considered a peak time. I haven’t been focused much on such details and simply went to cast my vote. I opted for a t-shirt and trousers, which are my usual casual clothes that I wear at home and outside, reflecting my values and ethics. I also decided to put on a hood or cap to cover my head and wore my semi-sport casual shoes, which have seen better days. After getting dressed and waiting for the right time, I had some breakfast before heading to the voting location. I rode my motorcycle while wearing the mentioned clothes. Additionally, I ensured to bring my identity card containing my number and biometric information, which I assumed might be needed there, although it turned out not to be the case.

I left home around 8 a.m., which is typically considered peak hours according to the information I received. However, I decided to go at that time since it was earlier and likely to have fewer people. Additionally, I checked my assigned voting number, which is probably five, so I needed to go to the designated site for that number. Upon arrival, I encountered many people and their vehicles parked outside the school. I wasn’t wearing a helmet at the time, in line with the local customs. As I entered, I didn’t greet anyone, including the guard at the gate. I went inside and was directed to my assigned site based on the information I had received and prepared for.

I had to wait in line with the others in front of me, both men and women, who were also preparing to vote. We each cast our votes one by one until it was my turn. I believe there was someone guarding the site, probably a police officer, but I can’t recall the details clearly. Most of the time, I just looked around at the unfamiliar faces of the people waiting to vote alongside me. When my turn came, the police officer asked me to show my ID before I could enter the voting area, which I had in my pocket. Upon entering, I presented my ID, and the person in charge handed me a ballot paper. Then, some of my fingers were inked before I could vote in certain areas.

I filled out the forms and selected a party I recognized to cast my vote with my finger ink, placing the paper into the box afterward. Once I was done, I saw some of the guards smiling at me as I exited the classroom. I decided to ignore them and concentrated on finding my way to the school gate. Along the way, I encountered some familiar faces—my school friends from the same class and members of the football team. We didn’t say hello and simply went our separate ways, though I felt a twinge of regret for not acknowledging them. All in all, my voting experience in Malaysia was very positive, especially for my first time. I just checked the voting system to verify my number and brought along some documents, including my ID, before heading out. I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section.