KUALA LUMPUR: Electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 has criticised the May 9 election date fixed by the Election Commission (EC) as it's a weekday, thus making it difficult to "balik kampung" to vote.

"Those who have to 'balik kampung' to vote will be at an added disadvantage, especially those that have to return to Sabah or Sarawak from the peninsula and vice versa.

"We can now expect to see even lower voter turnout and further hardship for all voters," it said in a statement on Tuesday (April 10)

With the polling day falling on a Wednesday, Bersih 2.0 added that party polling, counting agents and volunteer observers will also have to find time off work to contribute.

Bersih 2.0 urged the federal government to announce polling day as a public holiday. It also urged state governments to declare public holidays on the day before and after polling day.

"If this is not done, all employers should allow two days of unrecorded leave for all voters."

According to Bersih 2.0, employers are required to give workers time off to vote without any deductions, as this is required under Section 25 (1) of the Election Offences Act.

"It is regrettable that the cost is now forced upon employers," it added.

Bersih 2.0 also said the campaign period of just 11 days was not sufficient.

For more than 10 years, Bersih 2.0 said it had continued to ask for a campaign period of at least 21 days to give voters adequate time to assess candidates and party manifestos.

"With a budget of over RM400mil, the EC has more than enough funds to make this a reality.

"The EC has therefore acted in bad faith and against the interests of democracy. The rakyat deserves a full explanation from the EC on why it has made such regressive decisions," it added.

Nominations for the 222 parliamentary and 587 state seats (except for Sarawak, which held its state elections on May 7, 2016) have been set for April 28.

Early voting for military and police personnel as well as voters living abroad has been fixed for May 5.