Melaka election set for 14 November as coalitions negotiate seats

Who is running

Barisan Nasional (BN), a coalition led by the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), governs Melaka. Its state chairman, Ab Rauf Yusoh, is chief minister, the head of the state government. He said on 7 October that BN stays firm on contesting 21 seats.

Pakatan Harapan (PH) is chaired by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and groups the Democratic Action Party (DAP), the People's Justice Party (PKR) and Amanah. Its state chairman is Adly Zahari of Amanah. PH said on 8 October that it expects to contest 18 to 21 seats and may contest all 28.

Perikatan Nasional (PN), a coalition led by Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS), an Islamic party, said on 9 October that it will contest more than four seats. Bersatu, which won PN's two seats in 2021 and with which PAS cut ties in June 2026, expects to contest up to 10. Bersama, a party co-founded by former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli, named candidates for 15 seats on 15 August.

How the vote works

Each of the 28 constituencies elects one assembly member. The candidate with the most votes wins the seat, and 15 seats make a majority.

Candidates are declared on nomination day, 31 October. The campaign runs for 14 days, until 11:59 pm on 13 November. Early voting is on 10 November.

The Election Commission's statement of 7 October gives no polling hours. In the state election in Negeri Sembilan on 1 August 2026, all polling centres closed at 6 pm local time.

How the race got here

BN won 21 of the 28 seats in the previous state election in 2021. PH won five and PN two.

On 14 July 2026 the assembly approved a change to the state constitution that allows appointed assembly members. PH opposed it. On 16 July PH confirmed that its five assembly members were leaving the state government.

BN and PN had an informal electoral pact in the Negeri Sembilan state election on 1 August 2026. After that vote, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the pact would be extended to Melaka. The Melaka assembly was dissolved on 23 September.

What happens next

1. Sep 23The state assembly is dissolved
2. today
3. Oct 31Nomination day
4. Nov 10Early voting
5. Nov 13The campaign ends
6. Nov 14Voting day

PH said on 8 October that it expected to name its candidates in about a week. PN said on 9 October that its seats would be settled after discussions with UMNO.

The Election Commission says it will stream unofficial results online after voting ends on 14 November. A party or alliance with a majority of the 28 seats can form the state government.