Why did Johor’s 2022 turnout fall to 54.92 per cent?

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Johor's 2022 Election Turnout Plunged Due to a Confluence of Factors

The turnout for Johor's 2022 state election plummeted to a historic low of 54.92 per cent, significantly below the 84.51 per cent recorded in 2018. This decline, which saw only 1,426,573 out of nearly 2.6 million eligible voters cast ballots, was attributed to a combination of pandemic-related issues, logistical difficulties, and widespread political fatigue stemming from years of instability.
Pandemic and Logistical Hurdles Deterred Voters

The 2022 Johor election was conducted amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, specifically during a wave driven by the Omicron variant. This health concern, coupled with the practical challenges faced by Johoreans working or studying outside the state or even overseas, created significant barriers to participation. The costs and complexities of travel during this period discouraged many from returning to vote.
Political Fatigue and Instability Contributed to Apathy

A deeper underlying cause for the reduced turnout was political fatigue. The period following the 2018 general election was marked by considerable political instability in Johor, leading to several changes in state administration. The initial Pakatan Harapan government, which ended Barisan Nasional's long-standing rule, lasted less than two years before political realignments led to a new coalition taking power. This cycle of instability, culminating in a snap election called by the then-Menteri Besar, appeared to have disillusioned a significant portion of the electorate.
Urban and Suburban Constituencies Saw the Sharpest Decline

The drop in voter participation was most evident in urban and suburban areas of Johor. Eight of the ten constituencies that recorded the lowest turnout in 2022 were won by Pakatan Harapan or Muda. For instance, the Perling constituency saw its turnout fall from 83 per cent in 2018 to just 42.2 per cent in 2022, while Skudai experienced a similar drop from 85.2 per cent to 43.8 per cent. This trend suggests that the disengagement was particularly pronounced among voters in these densely populated regions.
Low Turnout Impacted Coalition Performance

The low voter turnout in 2022 was identified as a key factor contributing to the weakened performance of Pakatan Harapan in the state. Johor PH chairman Aminolhuda Hassan specifically cited the low participation rates, alongside the splitting of opposition votes, as primary reasons for the coalition's diminished results in the election.

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Why did Johor’s 2022 turnout fall to 54.92 per cent?

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