Johor: Bright skies greeted the start of early voting in the Johor state election today, with security personnel turning up from 7.30 am to exercise their right to vote. The favourable weather at the polling centres, which opened at 8 am, facilitated the arrival and movement of security personnel and Election Commission (EC) staff who reported early. According to BERNAMA News Agency, while most polling locations enjoyed good weather this morning, the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has warned of thunderstorms across the state later in the afternoon. Sixty-four polling centres opened today to accommodate 24,751 early voters, including 12,041 Malaysian Armed Forces personnel and their spouses, along with 12,710 Royal Malaysia Police and General Operations Force (GOF) personnel and their spouses. Bernama checks at several polling centres, including the 5th Battalion GOF Camp in Simpang Renggam, Johor Contingent Police Headquarters and Mahkota Kluang Camp, found the early voting process procee ded smoothly. Prior to the opening of polling centres, EC personnel conducted final checks to facilitate a smooth and orderly voting process. Early polling centres will close in stages between noon and 6 pm, depending on their locations and the number of registered voters at each centre. The election involves 2,727,926 registered voters eligible to vote at 1,140 polling centres throughout Johor. A total of 172 candidates are contesting 56 state assembly seats in Johor's 16th state election, with voters set to head to the polls this Saturday.